Since U’s ran out against Bishop’s Stortford in the 1981 FA Trophy final Wigan have visited Wembley on three occasions, winning this competition in its various guises in 1985 and 1999(when former Sutton favourite Paul Rogers scored the winner against Millwall), and then memorably beating Manchester City in the FA Cup final in 2013, and like U’s they are battling for honours on two fronts, with their Papa John’s campaign running alongside their efforts to regain the Championship place they lost amid off-field problems in 2020. Saturday’s win against AFC Wimbledon saw the Latics close the gap on leaders Rotherham to four points with two games in hand.

Wigan reached the semi-finals coming second in a group that was topped by Crewe and also included Shrewsbury and Wolves Under 21s, then knocking Accrington out on penalties before a 6-0 win at Oldham in the last sixteen and a single goal defeat of Arsenal Under 21s in the quarter final. They have three players, James McClean, Tendayi Darikwa and Graeme Shinnie who are suspended in the league but can play on Tuesday, but Glen Rea and Max Power were injured in the game against Wimbledon.

Sutton, who topped a Papa John’s group that included Portsmouth, Wimbledon and Crystal Palace Under 21s and then beat Stevenage thanks to a hat trick of penalty saves from Dean Bouzanis before beating Colchester and Harrogate at the VBS, moved in to the automatic promotion places of League Two with Saturday’s win against Rochdale, but lost Kenny Davis in the first ten minutes and he is one of several players who Matt Gray will make a late decision on.

Tuesday’s referee is James Bell, who was in charge of both U’s games against Forest Green this season. The game will go to penalties if it is a draw after 90 minutes, with extra time only played in the final.

We have sold nearly 300 tickets for the game, with two supporters’ coaches travelling up to the DW Stadium leaving Sutton at 1.15,  but tickets will be available on the night from windows 1-3 of the ticket office in the north west corner of the ground, with our accommodation in the North Stand. If you can’t get to the game it is being televised live on Sky, and while that means we cannot show a live stream through the iFollow system we will have an audio commentary on iFollow, and if you haven’t got a valid monthly or seasonal pass you can buy a match pass for £2.50 here.

For independent travellers details are as follows.

Car:  Leave M6 at junction 25. At the end of slip road (approx. 1 mile) turn left, sign-posted Wigan A49. Continue past Sainsbury’s and cross the roundabout, 2nd exit. Follow signs for Wigan A49 for 1.2 miles to Saddle roundabout. At the Saddle roundabout, take first exit sign-posted Standish A49 into Robin Park Road, driving past the ASDA superstore. Follow signs for DW Stadium, post code WN5 0UZ. Parking is available in car park 1, off Stadium Way, price £5. 

Rail: From Euston to Wigan North Western at half past the hour to 16.30, then at 16.57 and 17.26, taking about two hours. The ground is about a mile and a half from the station, so best reached by taxi from the station. There is no train back the same night – the first direct service back on Wednesday morning is at 05.45.

We wissh everyone a safe journey and thank you for your support.