PREVIEW: We take a closer look at this weekend's visitors

Sutton visit Brunton Park for the first time

28 January 2022

The Blues face another of the division's in-form teams when they welcome Sutton to Cumbria on Saturday.

Thank you to our sponsors:

Match Sponsor - Story Homes

Click HERE to visit the Story Homes official website.

Associate Sponsor - Hangman Products UK

Click HERE to visit the Hangman Products official website.

Match Ball Sponsor - Premier Electrical Ltd

Click HERE to visit the Premier Electrical Ltd official website.

Match Ball Sponsor - Beaches Logisitics.

Click HERE to visit the Beaches Logistics official website.

bits

Located in Surrey, the Borough Sports Ground [VBS Community Stadium] has witnessed steady progression over the last 15 years, culminating in the step-up as champions of the National League for the team at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.

Slightly older fans will recall that Sutton enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run back in the 1988/89 season when they romped through the qualifying rounds and the first and second rounds proper with victories over Walton & Hersham, Dagenham and Aylesbury United, to tee-up a tie with First Division Coventry City, who had actually won the trophy just 18-months earlier.

The U's won 2–1 with goals from Tony Rains and Matthew Hanlan and were darlings of the nation following their stunning efforts.

They've settled well this term, and confidence remains high as they currently take more than a glance towards a second successive promotion.

opposition

Sutton are on a six-game unbeaten streak in the league (eight if you include their march towards the last four of the Papa John's Trophy) and have shown themselves to be very hard to beat, having climbed their way into the automatic promotion places.

That run includes three wins and three draws, with a stubborn streak away from home bringing them to Brunton Park off the back of two consecutive shares of the spoils on their travels.

That's almost unusual for them as, prior to that, they tended to either take the points or suffer a defeat, with five draws overall the joint lowest in the division.

And Tuesday night brought more joy as they negotiated their way through a tough meeting with Harrogate to book their place in the Trophy semi-final.

Captain Craig Eastmond celebrated appearance number 300 for the club with the only goal that put the U's within one game of a Wembley final.

Cup excitement aside it's the 13 league victories that have kept them motoring along, and they'll certainly cause problems, as we saw at their place earlier in the season.

who watch

Forward David Ajiboye bagged against the Blues in September, and he's scored six overall so far.

He's mobile, tenacious and has a knack for getting into tight spots, so we'll need to keep an eye on him.

It will also be good, of course, to see former Blues Dean Bouzanis and Richie Bennett back here at Brunton Park.

Click HERE to purchase a match pass that will allow you to listen to this fixture.

With match commentary provided by BBC Radio Cumbria, this is a fantastic way to follow your team through the season.

Match audio passes are available for ALL EFL league games - click HERE to find out more about this season’s iFollow United service.

highlights

The first ever meeting of these clubs in September 2021 went emphatically the way of the Football League newcomers, with Donovan Wilson netting the first goal of the day with just three minutes on the clock. Alistair Smith bagged a brace, and David Ajiboye rubbed salt into the wounds to make it 4-0 on the day. Manasse Mampala was given his marching orders as it all feel apart for the Blues.

Watch the highlights from that game here:

officials

Referee - Darren Handley
Assistant Referee 1 - Simon Clayton
Assistant Referee 2 - Bradley Hall
Fourth Official - Paul Newhouse
Observer - Michael Pike

Our referee for this fixture is Mr Darren Handley. Darren has been in charge of three games so far this season and has shown 10 yellow cards and one red.

He was last in charge of a Carlisle game in January 2020 when Cardiff City came north for a third-round FA Cup replay. The Blues took their illustrious visitors all the way, with a brace from Harry McKirdy and a Nathan Thomas goal not quite enough as the Bluebirds edged it 4-3. McKirdy's was the only Carlisle name taken on the night.

We also met him at the beginning of December 2019 when we drew 1-1 with Morecambe at the Globe Arena. Hallam Hope put us in front just ahead of the break, but former-Blue John O'Sullivan pulled things level just three minutes later. Hope and Jarrad Branthwaite picked up bookings on the day.

Prior to that he was with us in October when we beat Blackpool 2-1 in the Leasing.com Trophy group game here at Brunton Park.

Ryan Loft and Canice Carroll got us the goals that won the tie, and Canice went in the book alongside Jon Mellish for their troubles.

tickets

Don't forget that ticket prices increase by £3 on a match day.

Click HERE for full home match ticket details, including prices and purchase options.

Click HERE to purchase your match tickets online.

Alternatively, you can purchase your tickets in-person here at our main ticket office during office hours (Pioneer Stand), online by clicking HERE, or over the phone by ringing 0330 094 5930 (option 1).

Match Reports

MATCH REPORT: United 0 - 2 Sutton

Report from the Saturday afternoon home game

29 January 2022

United and Sutton United met for the first time ever at Brunton Park on Saturday afternoon.

And it was the visitors who took the honours courtesy of two first-half strikes.

Manager Keith Millen made two changes from the team that faced table-toppers Forest Green last weekend with new arrival Dynel Simeu marking his first weekend in Cumbria with a debut.

Corey Whelan was also recalled in a midfield role, with Jordan Gibson and Morgan Feeney taking a place on the bench.

Storm Malik did its level best to make things unplayable, with gale force gusts that battered Brunton Park, and United switched ends to defend the Waterworks with the wind in their faces following the toss.

The hosts probed from the off, with Dickenson thwarted on one side and Patrick on the other, but a shot from Ajiboye had to be charged down when Sutton attacked with a neat flick from Bennett as they released the pressure.

A long ball forward to Boldewijn brought a touch that had Olaofe interested, but McDonald got in the way to prevent the shot as the pair entered the box.

There was more pressure on the Carlisle goal on 13 minutes when Goodliffe hooked a high ball into the mix. It eventually came to Eastmond but his initial effort was shielded, and the loose pieces quickly swept up.

Brennan Dickenson spotted Bouzanis off his line when he had the ball at his feet deep inside his own half, and it would have been interesting to see what might have happened had it not caught in mid-flight as it was held up in the wind.

Power and pace from Mellish got him to the ball first in midfield and he pulled wide before crossing low. John got there to clear before Patrick could pounce.

The Blues came again with Dickenson, as he beat his man, but his delivery was sent behind. Guy took the corner, and there was a roar from the crowd as it flashed across the face of the target. All it needed was a touch, but it bounced agonisingly to safety.

The home back line had looked solid, but they were undone on 23 minutes when a left flank delivery was nodded away by Simeu. Olaofe controlled before swiping it low and through bodies into the bottom corner.

Carlisle were almost back on terms immediately when they spread play from left to right, courtesy of good work from Dickenson. Patrick took over, and he dropped a shoulder to make space for a cross. That was met by Armer beyond the back stick, but his header crashed into the post and ricocheted away.

Sutton doubled their advantage on the half hour when they sliced clean through the Carlisle resistance. Bennett popped a killer pass into the path of Ajiboye, who was already on a sprint, with the black shirts having worked their way out of a tight spot. The alert forward man held off two challenges before drilling it low and into the back of the net.

Callum Guy tried to take matters into his own hands when a clearance from an Armer cross came his way. He let fly from 28-yards but Bouzanis gathered it in, albeit after an initial spill.

Away tails were up and Milsom came from deep to help out with seconds from another punt forward. McDonald got in the way as it angled at the top corner.

Howard had to stretch to tip the dipping wind assisted set piece from Milsom off his line, and he did well to claw it away as he came under pressure.

The big stopper then had to save from Boldewijn when he twisted his way into the area. He saw the piledriver late, but he got down sharply to parry it away.

It was a strong spell of away pressure, but there were appeals for a home penalty in time added on for the first half when Senior overlapped, then curved his run. He tumbled, but the referee showed no interest.

And there was more for Howard to do when Sutton broke with a clip over the top. Olaofe rode a challenge and pulled it back as he reached the byeline, and Bennett connected with a stinging volley. The keeper stuck out a leg to make an excellent block.

A snappy and accurate kick from Howard set the Blues on the attack at the start of the second period and Patrick got there first to carry it forward. He delivered early but Bouzanis made it his.

Patrick then combined with Senior to find a gap, and the right back whipped a teaser of a ball at the runners. It took a deflection and the stranded keeper was relieved to see it go wide.

Simeu missed his clearance at the other end just before the hour and that appeared to have set Olaofe free. The big defender recovered in an instant and his tackle was clean.

Carlisle thought they'd got themselves back in it on 63 minutes when Dickenson floated a ball into the area. It was nodded by John, but Mellish was on it in an instant with a firm eight-yard header. Bouzanis was beaten but Goodliffe was on the line to make a much-needed clearance.

It was better from the hosts and Whelan fed Gibson in the next wave of attack. The substitute shaped to shoot but it struck a visiting thigh and bent wide.

Gibson forced Bouzanis into a parried two-handed save with 10 minutes left to play when he unleashed a snapshot from 20-yards. It had fizz, but the stopper was well positioned.

Sutton closed the game down well, and Howard was needed to stop Boldewijn from adding to the tally late in the day when he was played clean through. It was a decent save, and the follow up was shepherded to safety.

Mellish had a volleying opportunity when he got on the end of a Patrick cross, but it swirled in the wind and that made the connection a difficult one to make.

+++++++

Match Sponsor - Story Homes

Click HERE to visit the Story Homes official website.

Associate Sponsor - Hangman Products UK

Click HERE to visit the Hangman Products UK official website.

Match Ball Sponsor - Premier Electrical Ltd

Click HERE to visit the Premier Electrical Ltd official website.

Match Ball Sponsor - Beaches Logisitics.

Click HERE to visit the Beaches Logistics official website.

+++++++

Goals

Sutton United - Olaofe (23), Ajoboye (31)

+++++++

Bookings

Carlisle United - Omotoye (52)

Sutton United - Milsom (55), Olaofe (67)

+++++++

Teams

Carlisle United - Howard, Senior, McDonald, Simeu, Armer, Patrick, Guy (c), Whelan (Clough 86), Dickenson (Alessandra 73), Omotoye (Gibson 60), Mellish. Subs - Norman, Devine, Riley, Feeney.

Sutton United - Bouzanis, Goodliffe, John, Ajiboye, Eastmond (c), Olaofe (Wilson 78), Boldewijn (Korboa 90), Kizzi, Milsom, Bennett (Sho-Silva 78), Smith. Subs - Nelson (gk), Wyatt, Davis, Dundas.

+++++++

Match officials

Referee - Darren Handley
Assistant Referee 1 - Simon Clayton
Assistant Referee 2 - Bradley Hall
Fourth Official - Paul Newhouse
Observer - Michael Pike

+++++++

Attendance - 4,399 (118)