After reaching the playoffs last season but losing to Carlisle in the semi final, Bradford have failed to recapture that form this season and manager Mark Hughes paid for that poor start at the beginning of October. Caretaker manager Kevin McDonald suffered defeat for the first time in his four league games in charge on Tuesday when Bradford lost 4-1 at MK Dons, and the Bantams are currently 16th in League Two. That was Bradford’s fourth away win of the season in the league, while their two victories came at Newport and AFC Wimbledon.

Sutton are yet to beat Bradford in a league game, with the Yorkshire side winning on both their previous visits to the VBS, 2-0 last season and 4-1 in April 2022, a result which proved an ultimately decisive blow to Sutton’s play-off hopes. Lee Angol and Dion Pereira were in the Bradford squad for both games, and Lee scored in the 2-2 draw at Valley Parade in December 2021.

Lee has been suffering from tonsillitis and missed the last two games, and may still be sidelined tomorrow, joining the injured Sam Hart, Hisham Kasimu, Scott Kashket and Craig Eastmond on the unavailable list as U’s will look to find a performance to match the effort at Wrexham, and at home to Morecambe last Saturday, and this time achieve the result to match.

Tomorrow’s man in charge is Oliver Langford, who has been an EFL referee since 2008 and is a Select Group 2 official, taking charge of Championship games. He last officiated in a Sutton game in March when he oversaw the 0-0 draw at Barrow.

Tickets for the game are on sale online as usual, price £21 for adults, £15 for concessions (age 60+/full time students with ID), and £7 for juniors age 12-18. Tickets for under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Seats are £4 more in all cases, and while tickets will be on sale on the day at the gate, there is a £2 increase in price which does not apply to on line purchases.

The Sutton fan zone will be open from 12.30pm, with a Signal Hour until 1.30pm, when all pints are £3.50, and live music from Amity and the Ariston from 1.45pm. The Ariston will also be performing after the game in the MBA Lounge from 5.45pm.

Match programmes are again on line this week, and a free copy can be downloaded from here.

The game will as usual be covered on our iFollow service, with an audio commentary available in the UK and a live stream for overseas viewers. For UK viewers a match pass costs £2.50, but excellent value monthly passes for £4.49 and a season pass for £45 are available. Overseas viewers can buy a video pass for £10, with a season pass available for £170. Click here for further details and to buy a pass. 

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE

Before the game, from about 2.50pm, the Cheam and Sutton branch of the Royal British Legion, and the Soldiers’, Sailors’ & Airmen’s Families Association, will conduct a brief service of remembrance on the pitch. The Last Post will be played, a a wreath laid by the SSAFA, before a two minute silence is observed to remember those who have given their lives in service.

The British Legion will have a merchandise table next to Rose’s tea hut at the Gander Green Lane end of the main stand, (or if it is raining in the MBA lounge) and they will be carrying out a ground collection.