Sutton v Stevenage preview and Big Green Football Weekend

3 February 2023

The VBS Community Stadium stages one of the outstanding games in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday when Sutton welcome Stevenage, currently in second place in the table.

It's a game that last season provided some happy memories for Sutton, with Richie Bennett's double in September giving U's a first EFL win, and Dean Bouzanis's heroics in a penalty shoot out seeing U's progress in the Papa Johns Trophy later in the season, but this season's meeting at the Lamex Stadium was a different story as Stevenage won comfortably 3-0 on a night that saw Jon Barden suffer a badly broken leg.

Stevenage are unbeaten in their last eleven league games, Northampton the last side to beat them when they inflicted their only home defeat of the season in October, but in the past month have also been heavily involved in the FA Cup, stunning Premier League Aston Villa at Villa Park in the third round before losing at Championship side Stoke last week. Victory tomorrow could put them top of the table if Leyton Orient, who lost heavily at the Lamex a fortnight ago, fail to beat AFC Wimbledon at Brisbane Road.

Goalkeeper Taye Ashby-Hammond is injured and so Jokull Andresson has been brought in on loan from Reading, one of several additions to the Stevenage squad during the transfer window as they look to consolidate their promotion challenge.

Sutton are likely to show few changes from the squad that won at Harrogate last Saturday to move within three points of the play-offs, with Josh Neufville facing a lay-off after suffering an ankle injury which kept him out last week. Manager Matt Gray discusses the squad position, and the transfer deadline day activity, in his weekly interview which will be on line later.

Saturday's referee is Thomas Kirk, in his first season as an EFL referee and taking charge of a Sutton game for the first time.

Tickets for tomorrow's game are available on line here, price £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors, with Under 12s tickets free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Stand seats are £5 more. Tickets will also be on sale from the ticket kiosk, but adult or concession tickets bought in person on the day of the game increase by £2, an increase which doesn't apply to tickets bought on line, even on the day of the game.

The Sutton fanzone will be open as usual with food and drink from midday.

Anyone not going to the game can listen to an audio commentary through our iFollow system. A match pass costs £2.50, but it is also possible to buy an audio monthly pass for £4.49 or a season pass for £45. Overseas supporters can watch the game for £10. Click here to buy any of the above passes - the overseas options will not be visible to UK supporters.

A programme can also be ordered on line for £3 plus postage - click here to order a copy which will be sent out after the game.

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This weekend sees the Big Green Football Weekend, the world's biggest football campaign to tackle climate change, and mascot Jenny will be doing her bit by taking part in a litter pick in Collingwood Recreation Ground from about 12 noon. She would welcome any help she can get.

In other activities former Chairman of the Board of Directors Dave Farebrother, who is a Chartered Environmentalist, has been speaking to local schools over the past fortnight about sustainability and the Green Weekend at assembly to over 650 pupils. The schools are encouraging pupils to take part in the EFL Green Football activities to score points for Sutton United. They are each sustainability-themed running competitions, and we are giving each school 15 pairs of match tickets for their winners.

The club has registered as a hub for Human Forest ebikes and has set up vape recycling points, and an interactive training session called a Climate Fresk i planned for April, when we will be inviting representatives from the EFL, FA, Sky & LBS, and delegates will discuss and learn about the consequences of Greenhouse Gas emissions and how they interact on a global and local scale.

A new Community Hub opens this weekend in Gander Green Lane (on the corner opposite West Sutton station), it will feature a Community Fridge where people can donate food to help the community, and also acts as a cafe which spectators can use after the game.

All of this, of course, follows on from our comprehensive CSR and Carbon report published a few months ago.

For further details of how you can get involved with the EFL Green Football Weekend and score points for Sutton United click here.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 0 Stevenage 0

4 February 2023

Sutton United 0 Stevenage 0

Sutton and Stevenage battled to a point apiece in a game that had plenty of endeavour and commitment but few goalscoring chances for either side. The result moved Sutton to within two points of the play-offs, while Stevenage lost ground on League Two leaders Leyton Orient, but the outcome was a fair one with defences on top for much of the afternoon.

Sutton had to change the defensive line that has served them so well since Christmas, Louis John sidelined by injury so Joe Kizzi reverting to centre back and Enzio Boldewijn installed at right back, but Jack Rose had a relatively quiet afternoon and with visiting debutant goalkeeper Jokull Andresson little busier the ultimate scoreline was hardly a surprise.

Referee Thomas Kirk was in the action inside the first minute, booking Stevenage's Jordan Roberts for a heavy challenge on Will Randall with only 40 seconds played, but it was Randall who had the afternoon's first shot, sending in a fierce 20 yard effort that Andresson beat away. At the other end Jamie Reid showed good control on his chest before turning and shooting low, but Rose gathered the effort comfortably and for the rest of the half it was Sutton who looked the likelier to score, Donovan Wilson and David Ajiboye combining only for Wilson's attempted pass across goal to be cut out, and Kizzi heading over when he might have tested Andresson. U's did come close in first half stoppage time, though, when Andresson flapped at a Rob Milsom corner but redeemed himself by blocking Ben Goodliffe's shot at point blank range.

The second half continued in similar vein, with both defences having the answers to any questions asked. U's wasted a promising free kick as Milsom's low shot went in to the side netting at the near post, but at the back U's were sufficiently in command for Stevenage manager Steve Evans, who along with his assistant Paul Raynor was booked during the second half for protests at various decisions, to make a triple change in attack on the hour mark. It gave the visitors a greater threat, and whereas in the first half it was Sutton the likelier to score it was now Stevenage who looked more capable of grabbing a winner. Daryl Horgan headed over from a good position before Alex Gilbey's shot went wide but only just evaded the lunges of Danny Rose and Josh March.

That was probably the closest they came to a goal, though, with March putting a late header harmlessly in to the arms of Rose, and with Sutton never having the cutting edge to trouble the Stevenage back line the game finished with the goalless outcome that had appeared increasingly inevitable.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi, R Milsom, D Ajiboye, B Goodliffe, C Eastmond, E Boldewijn, A Smith, O Bugiel(sub L Angol 84), D Wilson(sub M Dennis 72), W Randall. Subs n/u S Hart, C Rowe, H Beautyman, B House, K Kouassi. Booked: Boldewijn

Stevenage: J Andresson, L James-Wildin, M Clark, J Reeves(sub J Forster-Caskey 45+1), C Piergianni, J Tomkinson, M Bostwick, Jamie Reid(sub J March 60) L Norris(sub D Rose 59), A Gilbey, J Roberts(sub D Horgan 60) Subs n/u A Chapman, J Taylor, Josh Reid. Booked: Roberts, Forster-Caskey

Referee: Thomas Kirk

Attendance: 3,167 (539 away)