As with Salford on Tuesday, Walsall are one of those sides that Sutton have yet to beat in two years of EFL meetings, although that record seemed set to end in April when U’s were 1-0 up deep in to stoppage time before a Walsall equaliser meant that both games last season ended 1-1 after U’s had scored first. Had Sutton won that game at the Bescot Stadium the result would have left U’s on the fringe of the play-off places, but following that game only one point was picked up in the remaining seven league games and U’s finished in 14th place, two places above Walsall.

This season Walsall, who won both games 1-0 in the 2021-22 season, are again in mid table having won two of their six away games, at Salford and then last week at Bradford. They have lost at Swindon, Morecambe and Wrexham, while their visit to Crewe ended level. Leading scorer Freddie Draper, signed on loan from Lincoln City, scored in the victories at Salford and Bradford and had scored three goals in four games prior to Tuesday’s goalless draw at home to MK Dons. Summer signing from Newport Priestley Farquharson and Brandon Comley, who was sent off in the corresponding fixture last season, are both injury absentees.

Sutton will move off the bottom of the table with victory on Saturday if Forest Green lose at Accrington, but will be without skipper Craig Eastmond, who came off with a hamstring injury during Tuesday night’s home defeat to Salford. Louis John and Rob Milsom are also likely to remain on the sidelines on Saturday through injury.

Saturday’s referee is Ed Duckworth, in his first season as an EFL referee and making his first visit to Sutton. 

Tickets for the game can be bought on line here, priced £21 for adults, £15 for concessions (age 60+/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. Seat tickets are £4 more in all cases. Tickets can also be bought at the ticket kiosk on the day, but there is a £2 increase in prices for tickets sold in person on matchday which does not apply to tickets bought on line, even on Saturday. With the ground likely to be very busy on Saturday due to the club’s Foundation Day you are advised to buy on line to avoid congestion around the car park and ticket kiosks. 

The match programme is a combined issue also including last Tuesday’s game against Salford, and if you can’t get to the game and would like to have a programme sent out you can order one for £4 plus postage 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. 

As mentioned above it is Foundation Day at the club, when we will celebrate the work of the Sutton United Foundation, and you can find more details in the article posted on the website yesterday which can also be found here. The fan zone will be open at 12 noon with pies on the lunch menu.

Supporters travelling to the game should note that there are no trains through West Sutton on Saturday due to engineering works. Southern services through Sutton are running normally from Victoria, and buses 80 and 413 connect Sutton station to the ground – they also connect with the London Underground Northern Line at Morden.

Anyone wanting to watch two games tomorrow can head to Aberdour School in Brighton Road, Banstead, in the morning (10.30 kick off) where our academy side will take on Exeter City in the EFL Youth Alliance Cup. Exeter play in the South West Division of the Alliance, where they currently sit seventh out of nine, and beat Oxford on penalties in the previous round. Sutton are in third place in the South East Division, three points behind leaders Wimbledon and level on points with second placed Northampton, who visit the VBS next Saturday morning.