Sutton v Carlisle preview and end of season party

8 May 2023

Sutton's second season as an EFL club comes to a close on Monday with a visit from Carlisle United, kicking off at 12.30pm in line with all the Sky Bet League Two games on the last day of the regular season, and after the game we will have the annual end of season awards party in the MBA Lounge.

Sutton's recent disappointing run of results has ended U's hopes of going in to the game with a chance of featuring in the play-offs, and depending on Monday's result U's could end the season anywhere between 10th and 16th, while Carlisle's chances of automatic promotion ended last weekend but, barring an unusual set of results on Monday, their place in the end of season competition is guaranteed.

For Carlisle not to finish in a play-off position Sutton would probably have to exceed last season's 4-0 win, still U's biggest win as an EFL club, with Mansfield winning at Colchester by enough to engineer a goal difference swing of eight goals, while both Salford and Bradford would avoid defeat in their games at home to Gillingham and Leyton Orient respectively. With Carlisle's concerns last season more at the other end of the table, although they ultimately steered comfortably clear of trouble, this has been a fine season for the Cumbrians, but winning only two of their last ten games has cost them the automatic promotion place that at one stage looked possible. Both John-Kymani Gordon and Jon Mellish are suspended, Mellish's appeal against his red card against Salford last week having been rejected.

Sutton are without a win in the same ten game period and will be hoping to go out in front of the home support with a performance and result to end the season on a positive note. Craig Eastmond and Louis John remain on the injured list, but Will Randall and Josh Neufville have both trained this week and could be involved, while the illness concerns that have been around the squad recently have eased. However Brad House is suspended after his red card at Rochdale. Joe Kizzi is set to make his 100th Sutton appearance.

Saturday's referee is the experienced Darren Drysdale, who has been on the EFL list since 2004 and took charge of the game against Tranmere in October. A former FIFA assistant, he ran the line in the 2000 FA Cup final.

Tickets for Sutton supporters remain on sale on line through this link. Prices are £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors age 12 to 18. Tickets for under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Stand seats are £5 more, and while tickets will be available for Sutton supporters from the ticket kiosk on Monday there is a £2 increase in price for tickets bought in person on the day, an increase not applicable to on line purchases. The ticket kiosk will open at 10.30.

A match programme can be ordered to be sent out after the game here.

The Sutton fanzone will be opening at 11am for supporters to enjoy a drink and something to eat before the game and reflect on the season just gone, with fish and chips back on the menu.

Coronation emblem.jpg

Before the game the National Anthem will be played to mark the coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla. There will also be the presentation of the Supporters Club Player of the Year award.

As it is a Bank Holiday and the game has not been chosen for live broadcast by Sky, it will be live streamed in the UK as well as overseas, with a match pass costing £10 and available to purchase here.

After the game Matt and the players will do a lap of the ground after the final whistle to show their appreciation of the support over the season, and we would ask all spectators to stay behind the barriers to enable this to happen. They then hope that as many supporters as possible will join them in the MBA Lounge for the end of season party and Player of the Year awards, when we will also have the last Strikers Are Key draw of the season. Admission is free.

Don't forget that Monday is the last chance to buy season tickets for the 2023-24 season at our bargain Early Bird prices, and these will be on sale throughout the day at the game, with the office opening at 10.30. Click here for more details and a link to buy on line.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 1 Carlisle United 1

8 May 2023

Sutton United 1 (Kouassi 17) Carlisle United 1(Kizzi og 85)

Sutton finished the EFL season by ending a run of six successive defeats, but were unable to give the home supporters a victory to take in to the close season as Joe Kizzi's luckless own goal with five minutes to go giving Carlisle an equaliser which confirmed their place in the end of season play-offs.

It was an entertaining game, and a Sutton performance that was much improved from the disappointing defeats at Colchester and Rochdale, and while the late own goal denied U's the three points there was much to encourage U's supporters, with Kylian Kouassi making the most of a full 90 minutes with a display that emphasised his promise and Sam Hart enjoying a game as a left sided midfielder.

Kouassi partnered Lee Angol up front in Omar Bugiel's absence, and it was Angol who should have given Sutton an early lead when Ben Goodliffe headed Rob Milsom's free kick across goal, but Angol put his header too high. U's didn't need to wait long to go in front, though, as Kouassi muscled Jack Armer out of a midfield challenge to attack on the right, and having laid the ball back to Enzio Boldewijn continued his run in to the penalty area to receive Boldewijn's return pass and thread a low left footed shot in to the far corner of the net.

Carlisle were almost level immediately as Goodliffe fouled Alfie McCalmont on the edge of the penalty area, and Kristian Dennis smacked a ferocious free kick against the bar, with McCalmont's miscued attempt from the rebound looping just wide. However Sutton had the better of the first half chances, with Ali Smith shooting wide following an incisive run from David Ajiboye, and Ajiboye then lifting the ball over an unguarded net after Angol had taken advantage of a misunderstanding between Paul Huntington and goalkeeper Tomas Holy to set Ajiboye up on the edge of the penalty area.

With Mansfield a goal up at Colchester, Carlisle could not afford to take their play-off place for granted, and early in the second half Owen Moxon's well struck volley was straight at Jack Rose. The closest to an equaliser, though, came when the dangerous Omari Patrick cut in on the right and saw his pull back divert off Harry Beautyman and go just wide of the far post and also just out of the reach of the sliding Ben Barclay.

Sutton were restricted to fewer chances than in the first half, the best falling to Kouassi as he met Hart's cross with a thumping header that was just too high, while substitute Donovan Wilson volleyed just wide having replaced Angol. It seemed as though the one goal would be enough, but with five minutes to go Barclay's long throw flicked off Goodliffe and a further deflection off Kizzi, making his 100th Sutton appearance and announced before the game as the Supporters' Club Player of the Year, left Rose wrong footed and saw the ball bounce in to the net.

Kouassi had Holy sprawling moments later with a low 20 yard effort, but the scores remained level, with Carlisle's fifth place earning a play-off against Bradford while U's finished in 14th place, behind Tranmere on goal difference and Crewe on goals scored.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi, S Hart, D Ajiboye, B Goodliffe, R Milsom, E Boldewijn, A Smith, K Kouassi, H Beautyman, L Angol(sub D Wilson 77). Subs n/u C Rowe, C Dundas, T Fadahunsi, J Neufville, L Gambin, T Dickinson

Carlisle: T Holy, C Whelan, J Armer, O Moxon, J Robinson(sub J Garner 67), P Huntington, B Barclay, C Guy(sub R Edmondson 79) K Dennis(sub J Gibson 66), O Patrick(sub T Charters 79), A McCalmont. Subs n/u J Senior, J Harris, M Kelly. Booked: Robinson

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 4,771(1,366 away)