Salford have also won their last two games, ending a sequence of five league games without a win which had threatened to drag them back towards trouble after an unbeaten eight game run following the appointment of Karl Robinson as manager in early January had seen them move towards mid table, underlining an inconsistent season for a team that would have expected to be challenging at the other end of the table. They won 2-0 at Sutton in early October, and are unbeaten against U’s in three meetings at the Peninsula Stadium, with U’s still looking for a first goal on the ground.

Last weekend’s win against Accrington moved U’s level on points with Forest Green, who are at home to Stockport on Friday and one behind Colchester, who entertain Newport, and Stephen Duke-McKenna, Deon Moore and Jay Williams have all returned to the squad this week after being on international duty. After Lee Angol joined Woking on loan last weekend until the end of the season, Jack Taylor has returned to Hornchurch, also until the end of the season, and scored a stoppage time winner on Tuesday against Concord Rangers that saw Steve Morison’s former club move fourteen points clear at the top of the Isthmian League table.

Friday’s referee is Paul Howard, taking charge of his third Sutton game this season after previously refereeing games at Crawley and at home to Barrow. He is in his fourth season as an EFL referee.

Admission is available on the day, price £15 for adults; £10 for ages 60+ and 18-21; £5 for ages 14-17 and £1 for under 14s. Under 5s not requiring a reserved seat are admitted free. These prices cover both standing and seated accommodation. All away supporters enter the ground by turnstile A, with seated accommodation in the North Stand and standing accommodation in the East Terrace, and any pre-ordered tickets can be collected from turnstile A1. 

For supporters not able to make the journey the game will be live streamed as it is a Bank Holiday fixture, with a match pass costing £10 and available here.

The Supporters’ coach leaves at 7.15am.

Independent travellers are reminded that Euston station is closed all Easter weekend and services from St Pancras, either via Sheffield or via Leicester and Nuneaton, are likely to be very busy and cannot at present be booked in advance, so the alternative route is from Marylebone at 8.36 or 9.36, changing at Banbury, or at 8.07 or 9.02, changing in Birmingham, which involves a short walk between stations from Moor Street to New Street. Total journey time is just under four hours. Then to get to the ground from Manchester Piccadilly walk to the Chorlton Street bus station, just opposite the station, and catch the X43 from stop EZ, which runs on the hour and half hour and travels along Bury New Road and will drop you close to the end of Moor Lane. Total journey time from Chorlton Street, including the walk along Moor Lane, is about half an hour. Return bus is at 17.33, while routes 97 and 98 run every fifteen minutes at 09, 24, 39 and 54 minutes past the hour to Shudehill bus station, a 5-10 minute walk from Piccadilly.  Return trains to Marylebone are at 17.25, changing at Leamington Spa, or 17.30, 18.03 and 18.25, changing in Birmingham- the 17.30 requires an additional change at Crewe.

Those who are driving should travel via the M6 and M62 to join the M60 at junction 12, and then continue clockwise to leave at junction 17 at Prestwich. Turn in towards Manchester on the A56 Bury New Road, and Moor Lane is about two miles along on the right. There are roadworks in Bury New Road which may take about ten minutes to negotiate. There is no parking at the ground, and parking restrictions are in force in most roads around the ground. Better parking options may be available by turning left in to Singleton Road, opposite Moor Lane, and then walking along Moor Lane.

There is football on Friday at the VBS with Crystal Palace Under 21s facing Tottenham Under 21s, kick off 12.00. More details here.