Before the game Sutton supporters will have their chance to pay tribute following the passing last week of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with a minute’s silence being observed before the singing of the National Anthem. 

Sutton and Hartlepool have had a number of significant meetings over the years, with Matt Gray’s first match as Sutton manager producing a 3-1 win at Hartlepool, who were then the opposition as Sutton clinched the National League title and promotion to the EFL in May 2021. Hartlepool followed U’s up the following summer, and last season’s meetings saw Ben Goodliffe’s goal give U’s the points at Sutton and extend Pool’s record of never having won at the VBS, before a 1-1 draw in the north east in February, Joe Kizzi scoring for U’s.

Hartlepool go in to the game still looking for their first EFL win of the season, with four draws and four defeats in their eight games so far, the most recent draw coming at home to Crewe on Tuesday when summer signing Josh Umerah returned from injury with a goal, and they added to their attack earlier this week with the signing of experienced Scottish international striker Chris Maguire. Away from home their one point came at Colchester while they have lost at Walsall, Leyton Orient and Northampton.

Sutton expect both Omar Bugiel and Rob Milsom to have shaken off the knocks that saw them substituted at Swindon, but will still be without injured trio Ben Goodliffe, Sam Hart and Tope Fadahunsi. 

Referee on Saturday is Bedfordshire-based Will Finnie, who has been an EFL referee for four years and took charge of last season’s 1-0 win at Tranmere.

Tickets are on sale on line here, priced £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors, with a £5 increase for a seat. Tickets can also be bought at the ticket kiosk on the day, but a reminder that those tickets are subject to a £2 price increase which does not apply to tickets bought on line.

The Fan Zone will open at 12 noon as usual, with all turnstiles and the Hartlepool fan zone opening at 1.30pm.

As usual there will be an audio commentary of the game on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50, although monthly passes (£4.49) and seasonal passes (£45) are also available providing excellent value. Click here  for further details and to buy a pass.

The match programme is available to order on line as well as being sold around the ground. If you can’t get to the game and want to order a copy, price £3 plus postage, click here.