After picking up maximum points at Crawley on Boxing Day, Sutton return to the VBS for the remainder of the Christmas holiday schedule, and ahead of the New Year's Day derby with Wimbledon U's welcome Gillingham for the first time in a league game on Thursday (7.45pm)
Relegated from League One at the end of last season, Gillingham would have been expected by most to have been among the sides challenging for promotion, but the season has so far gone in the opposite direction and they come in to Thursday's game bottom of the table, with just two wins and six goals to their name so far. One of those wins was against U's at the start of October when Alex McDonald's stoppage time header settled the game, but they have failed to win any of their ten subsequent league games, although in the FA Cup wins against Fylde and Dagenham & Redbridge, both after replays, have earned a home time with Leicester City next week Away from home they are still looking for their first league win, with four draws and six defeats.
A recent change of ownership has created optimism for the second half of the season at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, and the signing of striker Tom Nichols this week from Crawley has been an early statement of intent, although he will not be eligible for Thursday's game.
Sutton moved up to 15th with Monday's win at Crawley in what is becoming a congested mid-table area, with 4th placed Carlisle and 16th placed Grimsby separated by just nine points. Donovan Wilson was forced to pull out of Monday's game after a recurrence of the injury that had kept him out at Leyton Orient, but could be in contention to return on Thursday.
The referee on Thursday is Thomas Parsons, who is in his first EFL season and making his first visit to Sutton, although he did referee the game at Crewe in August and has also taken charge of Sutton games in the National League.
Tickets are available on line for the game here, priced £20 for adults, £14 for concessions and £6 for juniors age 12-18. Tickets for children under the age of 12 are free provided they are bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. Prices rise by £5 for seats. Gillingham supporters have their own link to buy tickets for the away end here.
Tickets will be on sale on Thursday at the ticket kiosk, but prices for adult and concession tickets rise by £2 for tickets bought in person on the day, an increase that does not apply to tickets bought on line, even on the day of the game.
The fanzone will open at 6pm with a selection of food and drink for supporters who want to arrive early and look forward to the game.
A double programme has been produced that also covers Sunday's game against Wimbledon, and anyone not able to be at the games can order one on line here, price £4 plus postage.
For supporters unable to be at Thursday's game there will be a live stream on our iFollow service, both in the UK and overseas, and match passes, priced £10, can be bought here. Overseas supporters can now buy a half season pass for £85, clicking on the same link, which will cover all games from now until the end of the season. This offer, which runs until January 31, is for overseas supporters only, as coverage in the UK will revert to audio commentary for Saturday afternoon games with effect from next week's game at Tranmere.