Sutton v Tranmere preview

7 October 2022

Sutton will hope that a difficult week can end on a more positive note when Tranmere Rovers visit the VBS Community Stadium on Saturday.

A disappointing defeat last Saturday at Gillingham was followed by a 3-0 loss at Stevenage on Tuesday where the performance and result was overshadowed by the serious broken leg suffered by Jon Barden, on whose condition Matt Gray provides an update in his pre-match interview.

With Salford winning at the VBS a fortnight ago that makes it three league defeats in a row, the first time U's have suffered such a run almost exactly three years, so U's will hope that a return to the home ground on which only one defeat had been suffered in eleven months prior to the Salford game will see a return to winning form.

Tranmere come in to the game in form the exact opposite of Sutton's, with three consecutive wins, all by the only goal, lifting them in to the top half of the table, three places and two points above Sutton with a game in hand. Two of those wins came away at Salford and Walsall, Tranmere's only two away wins this season, while they have lost at Leyton Orient, Mansfield and Newport and drawn at Hartlepool.

Last season U's took four points in the two encounters, winning by the only goal at Tranmere and drawing 1-1 at home, Ben Goodliffe's first half goal cancelled out by Josh Hawkes.

Matt Gray reports that Will Randall, Sam Hart and Tope Fadahunsi, who all missed the trip to Stevenage, have all trained in the last few days and could be in line for inclusion in the squad to face Tranmere but Donovan Wilson remains unavailable as he completes his three match suspension.

Referee Darren Drysdale, a former FIFA assistant who has been a Football League referee since 2004, was in charge of U's first home EFL game against Oldham last season, and also the FA Cup tie at Bristol Rovers.

Tickets are on sale for the game, prices are £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors. Tickets for children aged 12 and under are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Seat prices are £5 extra in all cases. These prices apply to all online purchases, even on the day of the game, but anyone paying at the ground on the day will pay £2 more. Click here to buy tickets.

The Fanzone will as usual be open from 12 noon for supporters who would like a drink and a snack before the game, with the Tranmere fanzone open at 1.30pm when the turnstiles open.

A reminder that due to the rail strike on Saturday there will be no Thameslink service through West Sutton. Southern services are running to Sutton from London Victoria, with two trains an hour via Mitcham Junction and two an hour via West Croydon, the latter running on to Epsom Downs, but supporters should note that the last service from Sutton to London after the game is at 17.51, and to Epsom Downs at 17.49.

A match programme is available to order here, price £3 plus postage to be delivered after the game.

An audio commentary will be available tomorrow through our iFollow service, and you can order a pass for £2.50 here, although monthly passes at £4.49 are also available and season passes at £45 are also available.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2

8 October 2022

Sutton United 0 Tranmere Rovers 2 (Hemmings 19 pen, Lewis 45+4)

Sutton endured another difficult afternoon, suffering a fourth consecutive league defeat after seeing two centre backs limp off inside the first twenty minutes before conceding a penalty which produced Tranmere's first goal on their way to a fourth consecutive league win and clean sheet.

In a game where there wasn't much between the sides Tranmere struck again with the last kick of the first half, and hard though Sutton battled, U's were further hampered just after the hour when Will Randall, who had been fit to start after missing Tuesday's game at Stevenage, suffered a recurrence of his injury and, with two substitutions already made, Matt Gray had to make any replacements he was going to make at the same time, and Omar Bugiel and Charley Kendall, who had both kept the Tranmere defence fully occupied, had to depart earlier than intended.

As well as Randall returning there was a first start of the season for Adam Lovatt in midfield, but it wasn't long before U's were having to adjust again, Louis John feeling his hamstring and limping off to be replaced by Aaron Pierre. Worse followed as Pierre, making a superb tackle to prevent Kane Hemmings breaking through, injured his leg and although he tried to carry on he was forced to give way and Joe Kizzi became Coby Rowe's third centre back partner in the first 18 minutes, Enzio Boldewijn coming on at right back. To compound U's problems, from the drop ball restart, Josh Dacres-Cogley's cross was headed down by Dynel Simeu, and as Paul Lewis tried to pounce on the loose ball he was brought down by Kizzi. Hemmings blasted the penalty to Ward's right to put Tranmere in front.

Sutton recovered well, and just before half time some battling work by Bugiel gave Kendall a chance on the left of the penalty area but, under pressure from Chris Merrie, Kendall sliced his shot wide. However in the last of the four extra minutes at the end of the half Tranmere struck a devastating blow as Keiron Morris and Hemmings combined to send Lewis away to beat the advancing Ward.

The second half saw little goalmouth action, with U's forced in to all the remaining substitutions just after the hour when Randall went down, and the best chance of setting up an exciting finish came with ten minutes to go when Rob Milsom's quick free kick found Kizzi coming in at the far post but he volleyed high over the bar. Tranmere substitute Elliott Nevitt miskicked when in a good position, and Rhys Hughes hit the side netting late on, but the two first half goals were enough to continue Tranmere's recent fine form.

Sutton: L Ward, J Kizzi, R Milsom, C Rowe, C Eastmond, L John(sub A Pierre 7)(sub E Boldewijn 18), J Neufville, A Lovatt, O Bugiel(sub K Thomas 63), C Kendall(sub T Fadahunsi 63), W Randall(sub L Gambin 62). Subs n/u B House, K Kouassi. Booked: Eastmond

Tranmere: R Doohan, J Dacres-Cogley, E Bristow, L O'Connor, J Turnbull, C Merrie, K Morris(sub R Hughes 82), D Simeu, P Lewis(sub E Nevitt 73) K Hemmings, J Hawkes. Subs n/u M Hewelt, R McAlear, J Nolan, N Byrne, J Burton. Booked: Merrie, Hawkes.

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Attendance: 3,007 (356 away)