Sutton United vs Millwall on 18 Jul 23 - Match Centre

Sutton's pre-season programme continues on Tuesday with a visit from the highest ranked opposition in the schedule as Championship side Millwall visit the VBS Community Stadium.

For a while last season the Lions harboured hopes of an even higher status, being in and around the Championship play-off zone for much of the campaign, and they still seemed on course for a place in the end of season tournament when they led Blackburn 3-1 at half time in their last league game of the season, only for the Lancashire side to score three times in the second half. Ultimately both missed out, Blackburn behind Sunderland on goal difference and Millwall a point further back.

Millwall have added Scottish international Kevin Nisbet to their ranks in June, signing the striker from Hibernian, while former Bristol City and Fulham defender Joe Bryan, who scored both of Fulham's goals in their 2020 Championship play-off final win against Brentford at Wembley, has also arrived at the New Den during a summer that has been overshadowed by the tragic death a fortnight ago of hugely popular chairman John Berylson in a car crash in the USA, and Sutton United's sympathies are extended to everyone at Millwall on their loss.

Nisbet scored on Saturday as Millwall opened their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 win at Gillingham, fielding a different eleven in each half, while Sutton manager Matt Gray has been pleased with U's warm-up so far, which has seen a 3-2 win at Havant followed by a 2-0 home success on Saturday against League One Reading. A number of triallists played and impressed in both games, and they are likely to have another chance to enhance their claims to being signed permanently on Tuesday.

It will be the third time the teams have met in a pre-season friendly, with Millwall winning 2-0 on their most recent visit in 2007. Back in 1965, Sutton recorded an eyebrow-raising 9-1 victory against what has to be assumed to be a young Millwall side as the first team finished that season gaining promotion from the old Division Three. Micky Goodall, who in March was inducted in to the Sutton United Hall of Fame, scored a hat trick in that game, his last goals before joining Leatherhead.

Ground admission on Tuesday is as it was on Saturday, at £12 for adults, £7 for concessions (age 60+; full time students) and £3 for juniors age 12-18. Tickets for Under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. All prices rise £4 for a seat. Tickets can be bought here. They will also be available from the ticket kiosk on the day with no rise in price.

Season tickets are valid for the game and should be shown at the turnstile for admission, and anyone who hasn't yet bought one of our excellent value season tickets can do so online here, or at the downstairs club office before the game which will then enable them to use the season ticket for the game. Stand season ticket holders are advised to arrive in good time to ensure they can sit in their normal seat.

The home fan zone will not be open on Tuesday, but the club bars are open before and after the game and supporters are welcome for a pre-match drink. A reminder that the car park is for permit holders only.

The Tardis Terrace will be used for Millwall supporters and so not available to Sutton supporters.

Among the spectators will be Kelly Twine along with her family, and friends of her brother Liam. Kelly and Liam grew up in Sutton, and Liam became a big Millwall fan but sadly lost his battle with mental health a year ago. The Liam Twine Foundation has been set up in Liam's memory, celebrating Liam’s inspirational passion for golf, friendship and his infectious sense of humour. Hoping to help make the world a better place; one talk, one walk & one swing at a time - follow along with The Liam Twine Foundation on all social media platforms, and click here for more details.

Liam Twine Foundation.jpg

Match Previews

Sutton United 0 Millwall 3 (Nisbet 23, 61 pen, 75)

Sutton suffered a first defeat of the pre-season campaign against Championship side Millwall for whom Kevin Nisbet, the Scottish international striker signed in the summer from Hibernian, scored a hat trick to take his tally to four goals in two games for the Lions.

The first came midway through the first half with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that seemed to go under Jack Rose, and he doubled his tally just after the hour mark from the penalty spot after Sam Hart had fouled Romaine Esse. The hat trick was completed with a fine free kick from twenty yards.

The first goal had followed a period of MIllwall possession after Sutton had been forced in to an unscheduled change, the triallist winger who had scored against Havant and Reading pulling up with what looked like a hamstring injury and being replaced by Tope Fadahunsi. Apart from the goal, though,and a Billy Mitchell shot that curled just wide, Millwall's possession yielded little other direct threat, and with Sutton finding it hard to make headway against a solid Lions defence goal chances at both ends were at a premium.

Sutton made three changes at half time, and almost equalised in bizarre fashion when a defensive clearance from Josh Coley's cross rebounded off another Millwall player and George Long had to react quickly to keep the ball out. U's were about to make a number of other changes when Hart's foul on Esse allowed Nisbet to score from the spot, and although Sutton kept battling, and the striker triallist who had also scored at Havant managed a late low shot comfortably dealt with by Long, the visitors comfortably held their lead which had by then become more commanding through Nisbet's well placed free kick after Christian N'Guessan had been penalised on the edge of the penalty area. Nisbet's subsequent replacement by Tom Leahy was the only change that Millwall made to a side that contained five of the players who had played in the last league game of last season plus summer signings Nisbet and Joe Bryan.

Sutton: J Rose(sub S Arnold 61), J Kizzi(sub O Khinda H-T), R Milsom(sub S Hart H-T), C Eastmond(sub C N'Guessan 61), B Goodliffe(sub C Dundas 61), Triallist A, J Coley(sub Triallist D 61), C Clay(sub H Beautyman 61), H Smith(sub Triallist E H-T), L Angol(sub H Kasimu 61), Triallist C(sub T Fadahunsi 17).

Match Reports

Sutton United

Sutton v Millwall preview

Match report for Sutton United 0 Millwall 3