Sutton v MK Dons preview and ticket and travel update

22 September 2023

After showing great spirit in battling back for a draw in Tuesday's EFL Trophy game against Aston Villa's Under 21 side, even if the subsequent penalty shootout went the way of the visitors, Sutton will look to carry that form in to the Sky Bet League Two programme when MK Dons make their first visit to the VBS Community Stadium on Saturday. The game has been designated as our #HerGameToo feature to highlight women's involvement in the club and the game.

Relegated from League One last season, MK began this season in fine form, opening the campaign with a 5-3 win at Wrexham and going on to win four of their first five games, but since then they have taken only one point from a possible nine and come in to Saturday's game in 9th place. Their squad this season includes Matt Dennis, who had a spell on loan at Sutton from MK in the second half of last season, but he is one of three injury doubts although MJ WIlliams, a summer signing from Bolton, returned in Tuesday's EFL Trophy win at Oxford and could feature on Saturday.

Sutton are looking to end a run of seven consecutive defeats which have left U's at the foot of League Two, but suffered an injury blow on Tuesday as Scott Kashket limped off with what has been diagnosed as a ruptured cruciate ligament, which will mean a lengthy spell on the sidelines. We wish Scott well in his recovery. Sam Hart came through his 45 minutes on Tuesday unscathed, and Craig Eastmond is close to being fit to return to the squad.

The sides did meet at Stadium MK last season in the first round of the Carabao Cup, when a goal by Conor Grant was enough to give MK victory.

Saturday's referee is Thomas Kirk, in his second season as an EFL referee and making his second visit to Sutton having been in the middle for last season's game against Stevenage.

#HERGAMETOO

The game has been designated as a #HerGameToo fixture, and members of our women's team, who are away to Enfield on Sunday, will be in the fan zone and the MBA Lounge before the game. #HerGameToo merchandise will be available in the fan zone, and there will be a girls' youth game on the pitch at half time. The fan zone opens at midday, with the food on offer this week being Chinese noodles.

SPECIAL TICKET OFFER FOR NEW SUPPORTERS BUYING ONLINE

Tickets are on sale through our ticketing website here. Ticket prices are £21 for adults, £15 for concessions and £7 for juniors (age 12-18). Tickets for under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Seat prices are £4 more in all cases. There is a special offer for any supporter buying a ticket for the first time, who can then claim a free ticket for a future home league game by emailing tickets@suttonunited.net. This offer is open to on line purchases only.

Tickets will be on sale on the day at the ground, but there is a £2 increase in price for tickets bought in person on the day, an increase which does not apply to on line purchases even on Saturday. The special offer for first time buyers is also not available for in person purchases.

Anyone not going to the game who would like a programme can order a copy to be sent out after the game, price £4 plus postage, by clicking here, and the game will as usual be covered on our iFollow service, with an audio commentary available in the UK and a live stream for overseas viewers. For UK viewers a match pass costs £2.50, but excellent value monthly passes for £4.49 and a season pass for £45 are available. Overseas viewers can buy a video pass for £10, with a season pass available for £170. Click here for further details and to buy a pass.

Tickets for Tuesday's Carabao Cup tie at Port Vale and the League Two game at Crawley next Saturday will be on sale.

Supporters travelling to the game by train should be aware that there is a revised Thameslink timetable on Saturday, with a half hourly service running only via Wimbledon. Supporters from stations between Mitcham Junction and Carshalton should take Southern services and change at Sutton.

The academy side have a game in the EFL Youth Alliance away to Gillingham at Beechings Cross, kick off 11am, hoping to bounce back from last week's narrow defeat at home to Luton.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 1 MK Dons 1

23 September 2023

Sutton United 1(Sowunmi 37) MK Dons 1 (Gilbey 53)

Sutton's run of seven consecutive league defeats ended with an encouraging performance that on another day might have earned more than just a point, although U's could easily again have tasted defeat when MK captain Alex Gilbey, who had earlier cancelled out Omar Sowunmi's first goal in Sutton colours, shot wide of a gaping goal with three minutes left.

That would have been very harsh for U's, whose first half performance was probably the best since the opening day defeat of Notts County, although U's may be disappointed that Craig MacGillivray in the MK goal was not tested more often. Despite a succession of corners U's were unable to create clear chances, and it was at the other end that the game came closest to its opening goal as Anthony Stewart met a left wing corner with a volley that fortunately for Sutton went straight at Dean Bouzanis.

Eight minutes before half time, though, U's had the goal they deserved as Sowunmi, preferred to Ben Goodliffe alongside Louis John in the centre of U's defence, attacked Christian N'Guessan's corner and sent in a firm downward header that no one was keeping out. It might have been a short-lived lead as Jack Payne cut in from the right and hit a shot that took a slight deflection and hit the inside of the near post before rebounding across goal to safety, but when the visitors tried their luck again from outside the penalty area seven minutes after the interval they had more luck, with Gilbey's low shot beating Bouzanis's dive.

For the next ten minutes MK looked to capitalise on the equaliser, with Mo Eisa glancing a header wide, but Sutton responded well and MacGillivray twice saved from Omari Patrick, the second save more difficult than the first as he turned aside a low shot from the edge of the penalty area. The goalkeeper was also called upon by Aiden O'Brien, whose fine run ended with a shot that lacked power and was comfortably saved. Another individual run, this time by substitute Dion Pereira, brought appeals for a penalty that referee Thomas Kirk turned aside as the winger went over under a challenge, and also sparked a counter attack for MK that ended with Eisa's low cross being met in front of goal by Gilbey, whose shot somehow failed to hit the target, sparing Sutton what would have been the most undeserved of endings.

Sutton: D Bouzanis, J Kizzi, S Hart(sub R Jackson 85), Sowunmi, C Clay (sub H Beautyman 79), L John, J Coley(sub C Eastmond 59), C N'Guessan, H Smith(sub H Kasimu 85) A O'Brien (sub D Pereira 79), O Patrick. Subs n/u J Rose, B Goodliffe.

MK: C MacGillivray, C Norman, D Lewington, A Stewart, W O'Hora(sub M Dean 88), MJ Williams, J Tomlinson, A Gilbey, E Harrison, M Eisa(sub J Leko 88), J Payne. Subs n/u J Tucker, C Grant, E Robson, D Harvie, M Kelly. Booked: Williams

Referee: Thomas Kirk

Attendance: 3,288 (691 away)

Match Reports

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Standings

Sutton United vs MK Dons - Replay - Sat 23rd September 2023

Sutton United vs MK Dons - Highlights - Sat 23rd September 2023

Sutton United vs MK Dons - Extended highlights - Sat 23rd September 2023