Sutton vs Chelsea U21 preview, ticket and streaming news

31 August 2022

After the excitement of last season's run to the final of the Papa Johns Trophy, Sutton begin the quest for a repeat on Wednesday night at home to Chelsea's Under 21 team.

It will be a year to the day since U's debut in the competition against Crystal Palace's youngsters, when goals from Tobi Sho-Silva, Ali Smith and Ricky Korboa gave U's a 3-0 win, a first competitive win as an EFL club and paving the way for a memorable run that ended under the arch at Wembley at the beginning of April, and Wednesday's game will give U's a chance to compete against some of the most promising talent in the English game. Last season Chelsea finished as runners-up to Exeter in their group, then beat Forest Green on penalties in the second round, before going out 4-1 to their Arsenal counterparts in the last sixteen.

Sutton manager Matt Gray has hinted that he is likely to make changes on Wednesday from the side that beat Mansfield on Wednesday, following a similar approach to last season when U's won all the group games without conceding a goal. Once again this season, if a group game is drawn then each team receives one point, but there will then be a penalty shoot with the winners receiving an additional point - two of Chelsea's group games last season finished in that manner, with a penalties success against Exeter but defeat against Cheltenham.

Referee Alan Young is in his fifth season as an EFL official and took charge of U's win at home to Exeter last season.

As this is a cup tie season tickets are not valid and everyone will need a valid match ticket to enter the ground.

Tickets are on sale on line, for Sutton supporters here and for Chelsea supporters here. Prices are adults £12, concessions £7 and juniors £3, with tickets for children aged 12 and under free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. There is an increase of £2 to all prices for a seat. While we would encourage supporters to buy tickets on line to avoid congestion around the ticket kiosks, tickets will be on sale on the night at no extra cost, for Sutton supporters from the ticket kiosk in the car park and for Chelsea supporters from turnstiles 9 and 10 at the Collingwood end of the ground. The Sutton fan zone and bars will be open from 6pm, with the turnstiles, and the Chelsea fan zone behind the visitors' terrace, open at 6.30pm.

A reminder that home supporters are now able to enter the bar from the ground at half time, with the new passageway from the Players' Bar to the stadium, between the main stand and the snack bar, OPEN from 8.15pm to gain access to the bar, and you can use the same door to go back out. There will be no access to this route from the MBA Lounge, and initial admission to the ground must still be through the turnstiles.

We are still endeavouring to park last season's car park permit holders but would urge anyone wanting a space to get to the ground early. There will be NO access after 6.45pm and NO departures from car park until half an hour after the game for safety reasons, so if you anticipate arriving after 6.45 or need to leave straight after the game you will need to park elsewhere, either in surrounding side streets or the Gibson Road car park next to the Holiday Inn which is about a 15 minute walk away.

WATCH LIVE ON iFOLLOW

Supporters unable to get to the game can watch a live stream through our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £10 available by clicking here. Overseas iFollow subscribers are reminded that the early bird price of £140 for a season's viewing pass expires at midnight on 31 August, and from 1 September onwards the price will be £170. From Thursday it will also be possible for overseas viewers to buy a monthly pass for £25 - please note these video passes are not available in the UK, where video streams are sold on a match by match basis. However UK supporters can but a monthly pass for audio commentaries at £4.49, or a season's pass for £45. Use the above link to purchase any of these.

A match programme can be ordered on line here, price £3 plus postage, to be sent out after the game although programmes will of course be on sale around the ground and in the club shop. The programme includes memories of previous friendlies against Chelsea, although Wednesday's game is the first competitive meeting between the clubs.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 1 Chelsea U21 0

31 August 2022

Sutton United (Fadahunsi 5) 1 Chelsea U21 0

Sutton's bid for a second successive run in the Papa Johns Trophy began with a win against a talented Chelsea Under 21 side who moved the ball well and at times attacked with great pace, but lacked the composure in front of goal to cancel out Tope Fadahunsi's strike inside the first five minutes that ultimately proved to be the winner.

Manager Matt Gray refreshed his starting line-up as he had promised, with first competitive starts this season for Brad House, Sam Hart and Luke Gambin, as well as Kylian Kouassi and Fadahunsi, who were given the chance in attack and took less than five minutes to justify their inclusion. After Louis John had won a good tackle in midfield, Ali Smith found Kouassi, who played a perfectly weighted pass through for Fadahunsi to hold off the challenge of Chelsea captain Bashir Humphreys and shoot low past the advancing Teddy Sharman-Lowe.

It wasn't all good news for U's as the luckless Hart had to be replaced by Rob Milsom before the game could restart after suffering a slight groin injury, and either side of the goal U's had been given a taste of what might come in the evening, firstly with a dash down the left by Dion Rankine that set up Cesare Casadei for a shot that went just over from twenty yards, and then, minutes after Fadahunsi's goal, Josh Brooking's run from just inside the Sutton half ending with a shot that was beaten away by House.

Chelsea's main threat came down the flanks, with the pace of Rankine and Omari Hutchinson catching the eye, and Hutchinson sent in two dangerous crosses, one of which was tipped away by House, and the other bouncing just wide of the far post, but U's came close to a second goal just before half time when Sharman-Howe punched clear a cross and had to react quickly to keep out Milsom's skimming shot from the edge of the penalty area.

There was a scare for Sutton early in the second half when John lost control of the ball to leave Mason Burstow with a clear run on goal, and the striker then went over as John tried to recover his mistake but referee Alan Young waved play on. U's changed both centre backs just after the hour, Craig Eastmond and Coby Rowe the partnership for the last half hour, and although Chelsea still had plenty of the ball. for all their skilful and pacy approach work they lacked a convincing finish. Humphreys blazed one good opportunity high over the bar, and when Hutchinson did get his shot on target after a good move had ended with Burstow flicking the ball in to his path, House made an excellent save to his left. Indeed it was Sutton who went closest to a second goal when a quick counter attack led by Gambin set up Enzio Boldewijn for a first time shot from 25 yards that crashed back off the bar.

Chelsea's cause wasn't helped with five minutes to go when Casadei, already booked for a foul on Smith, lost out to Harry Beautyman in midfield and grabbed the ball while he was on the ground to prevent Beautyman breaking away, the referee left with no option but to show a second yellow card. U's safely saw out six minutes of stoppage time to join Oxford on three points at the top of the Southern Group G.

Sutton: B House, J Barden, S Hart (sub R Milsom 7), L Gambin (sub J Neufville 77) J Kizzi(sub C Rowe 62) L John (sub C Eastmond 63) E Boldewijn, A Smith, K Kouassi(sub C Kendall 77), H Beautyman, T Fadahunsi. Subs n/u J Rose, K Thomas. Booked: Milsom, Smith

Chelsea: T Sharman-Lowe, J Brooking, Z Sturge(sub D Williams 79), C Casadei, A Gilchrist, B Humphreys, O Hutchinson (sub J Soonsup-Bell 79) L Hall(sub B Elliott 90+4), M Burstow (sub L Castledine 79), J Taurianien(sub H Vale 63), D Rankine. Booked: Brooking, Casadei, Gilchrist. Sent Off: Casadei (deliberate handball - second bookable offence)

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 2,189(348 away)