Sutton are on the road again on Saturday with a first ever trip to Blundell Park to take on Grimsby Town, who regained their Football League status through the National League play-offs in June just a year after being relegated.
Both Grimsby and Sutton have four points and an identical goal difference going in to the game, with U's a place higher having scored one more goal, but Grimsby already have a game in hand after torrential rain caused the abandonment of Tuesday's game at home to Carlisle midway through the first half.
Prior to that Grimsby had lost on the opening day of the season at Leyton Orient, then drew at home to Northampton before picking up a first league win of the season last Saturday when they inflicted one of the four defeats that Rochdale have suffered so far which led to the departure of manager Robbie Stockdale on Thursday. Grimsby also enjoyed a comprehensive Carabao Cup win over Crewe and are looking forward to a visit from Premier League Nottingham Forest on Tuesday in the second round.
Grimsby's squad this season includes several players that U's have encountered in recent seasons, including defender Luke Waterfall, a member of Lincoln's 2017 National League championship squad, as well as defender Shaun Pearson (ex Wrexham), midfielders Gavin Holohan (Hartlepool) and Niall Maher (Halifax) as well as forward Jordan Maguire-Drew (Dagenham and Leyton Orient). Sean Scannell, brother of former U's forward Damian Scannell, is also in this season's squad.
Sutton will be looking to reverse early season away fortunes which have seen defeats at Doncaster and Crewe, neither of which U's will feel were deserved, and Sam Hart, Will Randall and Coby Rowe are all in contention for a return after injury although Omar Bugiel is still likely to be on the sidelines after his injury against Barrow.
For the second game in a row U's will be refereed by an official in his first season on the EFL referees' list, with Martin Woods having taken charge of Grimsby's defeat of Solihull in last season's National League play-off final. The Lancashire official has refereed several Sutton games at National League level.
Supporters who can't make the trip to Blundell Park can follow an audio commentary on our iFollow service, with a match pass available at £2.50, while monthly passes (£4.49) and season passes (£45) are also available. Overseas supporters can watch a live stream of the game for £10, with a reminder that until the end of August a season pass for the live streaming overseas is just £140.
Tickets are on sale on line through the Grimsby Town website here. Prices are: Adults £20; age 65 and over/age 18-22/student and unemployed with proof of ID £13; unaccompanied junior age 14-17 £7; accompanied junior age 3-17 £5, under 3 free. Tickets are also on sale at the ground, but adult and concession prices rise on the day by £2. Our accommodation is in the Osmond Stand.
The Supporters' Club coach leaves the VBS at 6.30am, price £35 return. Email johnparsons092@gmail.com
Independent travellers are reminded that there is a rail strike on Saturday, and while it is possible to get to Cleethorpes, leaving King's Cross at 07.33 or 10.48 and changing at Doncaster, there is no return train after the game. For drivers, the post code of the ground, which as all students of the game know is in Cleethorpes rather than Grimsby, is DN35 7PY. Take the M1/M18/M180 and at the end of the M180 stay on the A180 through Grimsby to Cleethorpes, and the ground is on the left adjacent to McDonalds. There is no on-site parking, but there is ample street parking around the ground, although some roads may have matchday parking restrictions. You can also reach the M180 by leaving the M1 at Junction 21A at Leicester and following the A46 to Lincoln then the A15.
Our academy side are away to Gillingham on Saturday in the EFL Youth Alliance, kick off 10.30 at Gillingham's Beechings Cross training ground.