Sutton v Hartlepool preview

16 September 2022

After a disappointing result at Swindon on Tuesday, Sutton will look to continue the good home form on Saturday when Hartlepool United visit the VBS Community Stadium.

Before the game Sutton supporters will have their chance to pay tribute following the passing last week of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with a minute's silence being observed before the singing of the National Anthem.

Sutton and Hartlepool have had a number of significant meetings over the years, with Matt Gray's first match as Sutton manager producing a 3-1 win at Hartlepool, who were then the opposition as Sutton clinched the National League title and promotion to the EFL in May 2021. Hartlepool followed U's up the following summer, and last season's meetings saw Ben Goodliffe's goal give U's the points at Sutton and extend Pool's record of never having won at the VBS, before a 1-1 draw in the north east in February, Joe Kizzi scoring for U's.

Hartlepool go in to the game still looking for their first EFL win of the season, with four draws and four defeats in their eight games so far, the most recent draw coming at home to Crewe on Tuesday when summer signing Josh Umerah returned from injury with a goal, and they added to their attack earlier this week with the signing of experienced Scottish international striker Chris Maguire. Away from home their one point came at Colchester while they have lost at Walsall, Leyton Orient and Northampton.

Sutton expect both Omar Bugiel and Rob Milsom to have shaken off the knocks that saw them substituted at Swindon, but will still be without injured trio Ben Goodliffe, Sam Hart and Tope Fadahunsi.

Referee on Saturday is Bedfordshire-based Will Finnie, who has been an EFL referee for four years and took charge of last season's 1-0 win at Tranmere.

Tickets are on sale on line here, priced £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors, with a £5 increase for a seat. Tickets can also be bought at the ticket kiosk on the day, but a reminder that those tickets are subject to a £2 price increase which does not apply to tickets bought on line.

The Fan Zone will open at 12 noon as usual, with all turnstiles and the Hartlepool fan zone opening at 1.30pm.

As usual there will be an audio commentary of the game on our iFollow service, with a match pass costing £2.50, although monthly passes (£4.49) and seasonal passes (£45) are also available providing excellent value. Click here for further details and to buy a pass.

The match programme is available to order on line as well as being sold around the ground. If you can't get to the game and want to order a copy, price £3 plus postage, click here.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 2 Hartlepool United 0

17 September 2022

Sutton United 2 (Randall 53, Beautyman 66) Hartlepool United 0

Sutton recorded a fourth consecutive home win with two second half goals to leave Hartlepool still looking for a first league win of the season. Although the first half proved frustrating as a bright Sutton start faded, U's were dominant for much of the game and the dip in the later stages of the first half was soon forgotten after the break as Will Randall scored his third goal in two games and Harry Beautyman crashed in a superb diving header to give U's a lead that rarely looked in danger, with Jack Rose's only save coming twelve minutes from time when he pushed over a long range Jamie Sterry shot.

With Rob Milsom and Omar Bugiel recovered from the injuries they had suffered at Swindon U's were able to name an unchanged starting line-up, but that only lasted for eighteen minutes, Milsom pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury and again replaced by Jon Barden. By then U's might have been ahead, Donovan Wilson hitting the outside of the post from a narrow angle in a goalmouth scramble, but as the half went on Hartlepool kept the U's attack under control and it wasn't until stoppage time that Wilson had another sight of goal, volleying over from Louis John's long pass, and Bugiel sent in a low cross from the left that flashed across goal unhindered.

Sutton should have been ahead early in the second half when Joe Kizzi broke forward and sent Wilson through the middle, but, opting to go alone rather than square to the unmarked Craig Eastmond he shot too close to Ben Killip, whose save sent the ball over the bar. To Wilson's credit, though, his head stayed up and he was soon involved in the first goal, getting in behind the defence on the right and crossing low to give Randall a simple finish.

Wilson was involved again soon afterwards, again breaking free on the right and after his attempted pass to Bugiel ran back to him his low shot was blocked by Killip's legs. However a second goal wasn't far away, and when Eastmond sent in an inviting first time cross from the right Beautyman dived to send his header in to the top corner, Hartlepool appealing for offside but assistant referee Stuart Butler ruling that Beautyman's characteristic late run had been well timed.

Hartlepool produced an improved performance in the last fifteen minutes, and the hitherto untroubled Rose showed good concentration to tip Sterry's shot over the top, but there was never any real concern that U's wouldn't see the game out, and it took another piece of good goalkeeping from Killip, helped by a defender, to prevent Enzio Boldewijn adding a third in stoppage time when he was put clear in to the penalty area.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi (sub A Smith 90+3), R Milsom(sub J Barden 19), C Rowe, C Eastmond, L John, J Neufville(sub E Boldewijn 81), D Wilson(sub C Kendall 81), O Bugiel(sub K Kouassi 81), H Beautyman, W Randall. Subs n/u L Ward, K Thomas.

Hartlepool: B Killip, R Tumilty(sub J Sterry 57), A Lacey(sub M Shelton 67), M Niang(sub J Hastie 67), E Murray, R Menayese, B Paterson(sub D Ferguson 57), T Crawford, J Umerah, C Cooke, W McDonald(sub M Ndjoli 58). Subs n/u K Letheren, C Oduor. Booked: Crawford.

Referee: Will Finnie

Attendance: 2,766(162 away)