AHEAD OF THE GAME: Sutton United (A)

Sutton vs Woking

Enterprise National League

Tuesday 17th February

19:45 Kick-Off

A third consecutive Tuesday night on the road sees Woking travel to the VBS Community Stadium to take on 21st-placed Sutton United.

After the lengthy trip to Truro last time out, which saw late goals from Flower and Turner secure all three points, the journey to Sutton is a far friendlier drive.

When the U’s made that drive back in September, the points were shared at the Laithwaite Community Stadium, after Okoli’s 37th-minute back-post header was cancelled out on 64 minutes by Charlie Bell.

History suggests that Sutton like a 64th-minute leveller in this fixture, with Jack Wadham’s header on that minute voiding Woking’s early lead last time Sutton hosted the Cards, thus seeing the points shared on the final day of the 2024/25 campaign.

A familiar ground for several in the squad, Okoli, Beautyman, O’Brien, and Sanderson have all played under the Sutton badge, and will return midweek hoping to have a strong impact against their former side.

Opposition Watch

Alongside Woking, Sutton also saw their weekend fixture, away to Hartlepool, postponed due to pitch conditions. This means they have been out of action since Brandon Njoku seized a stoppage-time leveller against Braintree Town on February 11, securing the U’s a crucial point as they attempt to climb out of the bottom four.

Indeed, currently occupying the final relegation spot, Sutton sit on 29 points from 30 fixtures, having claimed maximum points on just six occasions. Their last league victory on home turf came on November 29, with a 4-2 win over Gateshead.

Nevertheless, in their last ten league matches at the VBS Community Stadium, they have been beaten on just two occasions, showing that visiting teams struggle to leave with all three points.

The last time there was a victor in this fixture, it was Sutton who ran out winners, in September 2024. Two early first-half goals in Surrey placed points out of reach for the Cards, a fast start which the U’s will be hoping to replicate on Tuesday night.

One to Watch

With a total of 11 goals across all competitions so far this season, Njoku has not only found joy in goalscoring, but he also loves causing late upset, with his 94th-minute equaliser last time out against Braintree his most recent addition.

He also boasts an 87th-minute leveller against York City on the opening day of the campaign, as well as an injury-time equaliser against West Ham under-21s in the National League Cup.

In a previous National League Cup encounter, his 93rd-minute goal increased his side’s advantage over Southampton under-21s to 3-1, taking away any hope of an equaliser for the Saints.

Another fixture that indicates he loves a late goal, despite his side already being in a comfortable lead in the clash, was his 72nd and 87th-minute strikes against Guildford City in the first round of the Surrey Senior Cup.

These, combined with the other goals that add to his portfolio, show that he is one to be wary of, particularly in the closing stages of the clash, as he looks to continue his influence on Tuesday evening.