It’s a big weekend at the top of League Two, with the top six clubs in direct competition, starting on Friday evening when Stockport host Salford, and then continuing as Leyton Orient host Carlisle and Stevenage visit Northampton on Saturday. With some of the six therefore bound to drop points it could be a chance for the chasing clubs to close the gap, and Sutton, currently six points behind Salford and five behind Bradford who are in the last play-off position, will hope for maximum points at the Poundland Bescot Stadium and a first victory over Walsall.

The Midlands club are in mid-table, secen points behind U’s, and have won once in their last fifteen games. However ten of those have been drawn, and Walsall’s total of sixteen draws this season is the highest in the division. One of those came at the VBS in October, when Walsall played three quarters of the game with ten men after Brandon Comley had been sent off but grabbed a draw through Jacob Maddox’s late goal after Rob Milsom’s penalty had given U’s the lead. Walsall have recently welcomed back Joss Labadie and Conor Wilkinson from injury, the latter having won and converted the highly controversial penalty that gave Walsall the points in last season’s meeting.

Sutton secured a hard fought point at Mansfield last Saturday, making it just two defeats in U’s last sixteen games, and having missed that game through injury and illness respectively captain Craig Eastmond and striker Lee Angol have both trained all week and could come back in to contention. 

Referee Thomas Parsons is taking charge of the third Sutton game of his first EFL season, having previously been in the middle for the away game at Crewe in August and December’s home game against Gillingham.

Tickets are available at the stadium on Saturday, prices are: Adults £24; Over 60s £20; Under 21 £19; Under 18 £13. Family ticket (one adult and one Under 18) £26. Disabled supporters are charged at full price for their age category and can bring a carer free of charge. Card payments only.

An away fans’ bar opens at the Poundland Bescot Stadium at 1.00pm and supporters should note that the stadium is cashless.

For supporters unable to get to the game we will have live audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50 and a monthly pass £4.49. Overseas supporters can watch the game for £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass.

There are still seats available on the Supporters’ Club coach which leaves the VBS at 9am.  The fare will be no more than £30. Please email John at johnparsons092@gmail.com or text 07989 261929 before 6pm on Friday to reserve a place.

With the threatened rail strike for Saturday now called off travelling by train to the game is a good option for independent travellers with the ground having its own station, Bescot Stadium, reached from Euston with a change at Birmingham New Street in all cases. Suitable trains leave Euston at 16 and 40 minutes past the hour, and the total journey time is just over two hours. From the station walk under the M6 and the ground is in front of you, with the visitors’ accommodation closest. Return trains leave at 17.11, 17.41, 17.54 and 18.11, again changing at Birmingham New Street and the last of those also needing a change at Nuneaton.

If you’re driving,leave the M6 at junction 7, take the A34 towards Walsall. At the end of the dual carriageway stretch turn left by the Bell pub in to Walstead Road and continue for about two miles, crossing the A4031 before coming to the ground on your right. Postcode WS1 4SA. Car parking is available at £7 per car, and although the rest of the stadium is cashless, parking is cash only.