PREVIEW: Sutton

Sutton United v Carlisle United, Monday 8 May, kick off 12.30pm

Located in Surrey, the Borough Sports Ground [VBS Community Stadium] has witnessed steady progression over the last 15 years, culminating in the step-up as champions of the National League for the team at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Slightly older fans will recall that Sutton enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run back in the 1988/89 season when they romped through the qualifying rounds and the first and second rounds proper with victories over Walton & Hersham, Dagenham and Aylesbury United, to tee-up a tie with First Division Coventry City, who had actually won the trophy just 18-months earlier.

The U's won 2–1 with goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan and were darlings of the nation following their stunning efforts. 

Just one win in the last 12 games put a real spanner in the works of the Sutton push for a top seven finish, with all of the last six league outings ending in defeat. 

They've conceded four goals in each of their last two games, and all of their planning will most definitely already have a focus on next season's campaign.

That doesn't mean they'll roll over and play dead on Monday - not by a long chalk - and there'll be a determination to do it properly for their home fans as their second EFL season draws to a close.

Goals have been hard to come by for the U's this term but striker Donovan Wilson is a steady performer, with four strikes and two assists from his 40 appearances in all competitions.

He has two from the last three games, so he's one who comes into the game feeling in a confident mood.

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With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

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United and Sutton drew in Cumbria in December 2022, with Will Randall equalising on the stroke of half time after Ryan Edmondson had put the home side ahead.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

At Brunton Park in January 2022 first half goals from David Ajiboye and Isaac Olaofe were enough to get the job done for the visitors.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

The first ever meeting of these clubs in September 2021 went emphatically the way of the Football League newcomers, with Donovan Wilson netting the first goal of the day with just three minutes on the clock. Alistair Smith bagged a brace, and David Ajiboye rubbed salt into the wounds to make it 4-0 on the day. Manasse Mampala was given his marching orders as it all feel apart for the Blues.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

Referee - Darren Drysdale
Assistant Referee 1 - Daniel Cook
Assistant Referee 2 - Nicholas Dunn
Fourth Official - Andy Bennett
Observer - Philip Knight
Coach - Andy D'Urso

The referee for this game is Mr Darren Drysdale. Darren has taken charge of 32 games so far this season and has shown 98 yellow cards and two reds.

Joe Riley and Lewis Alessandra scored the goals that won the game against Stevenage 2-1 here at Brunton Park in April 2022, and there were no Carlisle names taken on the day.

We met him twice during the 2017/18 season, with him looking after our 1 January 2018 fixture against Mansfield Town. The Stags won 3-1 with Kane Hemmings (2) and Rhys Bennett bagging their goals. Jamie Devitt notched our consolation from the spot and John O’Sullivan and Richie Bennett were the United names that went in the book that afternoon.

He was also the man in the middle for our trip to face Notts County a month later, in February 2018. Jamie Devitt scored a late consolation, but a first half brace from Jon Stead had already done the damage. 

We had him once again at Field Mill when a Tyler Walker penalty gave Mansfield another narrow victory. Yet again the blue shirts avoided the little black book.