Sutton's last home game of the Sky Bet League Two season is a crucial game for both U's and visitors Crawley Town as the season reaches its finale.
While Sutton need a win to retain a chance of carrying the fight for League Two survival to the last game of the season, Crawley are equally desperate for the points to maintain a play-off challenge. They currently lie in the last play-off place after Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Barrow, but have only a one point advantage over Walsall and two over Doncaster, who have a game in hand and whose recent form is matched only by champions Stockport, and so three points at the VBS on Saturday will be seen as vital to keep ahead of the chasing clubs.
Only Stockport and Mansfield have won more games on their travels this season, with Crawley having won ten of their 22 away games, but they will need to improve on their two previous visits to the VBS in the EFL, which both ended in 3-0 defeats, while they also failed to score in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy game in October, which finished in a goalless draw before Sutton won on penalties. However they did win, again by 3-0, at the Broadfield Stadium at the end of September at a time when U's were struggling for form, although it was generally agreed that U's were on the wrong end of several important refereeing decisions in that game.
Crawley's 3-2 home defeat to Colchester last Saturday did neither Crawley or Sutton any favours, and with Colchester backing that result up with a 2-0 win against Grimsby on Tuesday Sutton have been left knowing that two wins in the last two games, and favourable results elsewhere, are needed to ensure EFL football next season. A win on Saturday will be sufficient to take the fight to the last week of the season if Colchester fail to beat Notts County and Grimsby lose to Swindon. There are no new injury worries for U's after last week's draw at Harrogate.
Saturday's referee is Lewis Smith, who although he is in his first official full EFL season refereed as high as the Championship last season and has taken charge of a Premier League game this term. He last refereed Sutton at Carlisle in December 2022.
Tickets are on sale on line to Sutton supportershere, price £21 for adults, £15 for concessions and £7 for ages 12-18. Under 12s are admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult or concession. Seat prices are £4 more in all cases. Remember that by buying on line, even on the day of the game, you can avoid the £2 increase in price that is charged for tickets bought in person at the ground on Saturday.
The Sutton fan zone will be open as usual from 12.30pm, with a Signal Hour until 1.30pm when beer will be £3.50 a pint, and Football with the Foundation from 1.45pm. Ambers' Bar will also be open showing the Championship game between Leicester City and West Bromwich Albion. You can also buy tickets on Saturday for next week's game at MK Dons, for which full details and prices can be found here.
If you can't get to the game there will be an audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream for £10. Click here to buy the relevant pass. You can also order a match programme to be sent out after the game for £3 plus postage. Click here to order.
Before the game the Supporters' Club will present their Player of the Year award on the pitch, and after the game, from about 5.30pm, we hope to see supporters in the MBA Lounge for the presentation of the other awards, including Club Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year and Clubperson of the Year. Before that Adrian Barry will conduct the last Strikers Are Key draw of the season in Ambers' bar at about 5.15pm, and after the presentations have finished there is a veterans' game on the pitch between Sutton United and Sheerwater, with a number of Sutton stars of the past returning to action. Kick off is 6.30pm and everyone is welcome.
Unfortunately the season ends on a recurring theme as there are no trains through West Sutton on Saturday due to engineering works. Southern services through Sutton from Victoria or London Bridge are operating to a normal timetable, and from Sutton station supporters can either walk (15-20 minutes) or catch an 80 or 413 bus - the 413 goes past the main Gander Green Lane entrance, the 80 closer to the Collingwood entrance for away supporters. Both routes also connect with the Northern Line at Morden.
After giving a good account of themselves on Thursday against Farnham, our academy players return to their more familar environment of the EFL Youth Alliance on Saturday morning with a game against Luton Town. The game is being played at Uxbridge FC, kick off 10.30am.
