The 2023/24 edition of the Carabao Cup kicks off at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday evening when Cambridge United make the trip to Sutton United...
Mark Bonner’s men will look to build on their winning start to the campaign and reach the Second Round for the fifth season in a row, by overcoming their League Two opponents, who have never made it past the first hurdle.
How to Watch
The U’s have been allocated a total of 1,290 fans for the midweek clash, with plenty of terrace and seated tickets still available to snapped up.
Tickets are priced at £15 for Adults, £9 for Concessions, £4 for Under 19s and Under 12s go free of charge. However, should you wish to sit down in the seats, it is an increase of £4. One away credit will be issued for fans who buy online prior to Tuesday, or supporters can pay on the gate.
Please note, the game is not available to watch on iFollow. Nonetheless, fans can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire or with an iFollow Audio Match Pass for just £2.50.
Opposition Focus
Formed in 1898, Sutton spent almost 125 years as a non-league outfit –predominantly spending their time as an Isthmian League side – before winning the National League title at the fifth attempt in 2021. Yet to look back, their debut season saw them reach the final of the Football League Trophy and finish just a point shy of the play-offs, but couldn’t build last season nonetheless as they settled for 14th. Continuing to punch above their weight, Matt Gray has built an exceptional culture who relish the opportunity to prove their worth. With the fourth division stronger than ever, they’ll need to rise to the occasion. For now, they fancy an upset.
It's all change following a busy summer in South London, where key components Alistair Smith, Enzio Boldewijn, Will Randall, David Ajiboye and Omar Bugiel have all departed. In spite of that, recruitment has been extremely smart. The spine in defenders Ben Goodliffe and Robert Milson remain, as do Harry Beautyman and Craig Eastmond in the centre of the park. Towering at both ends, Omar Sowunmi and Harry Smith are real handfuls, whilst wide men Josh Coley and Omari Patrick are already proving to be nuisances.
In preparation, the early table toppers dispatched Havant & Waterlooville and a strong Reading side, but concluded pre-season with defeats to lower league Woking and Aldershot Town. When it mattered on Saturday, they made no mistake – plummeting five past one of the early promotion favourites Notts County on home soil. Fluid with their build-up play and devastatingly impressive with their finishes, debutant Patrick treated himself to a brace to follow Joseph Kizzi’s early opener, before Beautyman and Smith put the final nails in the coffin. As far as early signs go, the group have real potential.
Form Guide
Sutton United: LDLLW
Cambridge United: WWWLW
United’s Approach
For the U’s, it’s simply a case of picking up where they left off. Although the Carabao Cup hands his squad the opportunity to fight for their place in the team, it’s also money in the kitty and, most importantly, further momentum ahead of what is a busy August.
The United faithful have every reason to be optimistic of a cup run following the committed 2-0 triumph against Oxford United last time out. Welcoming the season in style, playmaker Jack Lankester clinically stroked home before then starting the liquid football that produced the second, which was headed home by the industrious Gassan Ahadme. Although Oxford boasted the majority of the possession and tampered with the backline after the break, Jack Stevens confidently popped up with a key save 20 minutes from time to keep the visitors at bay and secure a first win at the first attempt.
Beaming with delight that his side got the ball rolling, Bonner said: “Obviously a clean sheet and three points is really important to us but the performance level as well I think is really important. There were some really good performances out there today, so it was a good day for us.
“It’s everything you hope it can be on day one and it certainly turned out to be that for us so we’re really pleased with the start that we’ve made.”
The season is young, but excitement is floating around CB5. With organization at the back, neat passes sprayed around the middle and a clinical edge up top, the U’s should relish every challenge that comes their way.
Team News
With an opportunity to rotate his XI and increase match fitness for the whole group, the Head Coach stated that Jordan Cousins will start as he continues to build up his minutes, whilst Elias Kachunga may need a couple of weeks training before playing from the get go.
Elsewhere, Brandon Haunstrup and Adam May continue to recover, and youngster Mamadou Jobe approximately two weeks away from returning to training.
For further information regarding team news, be sure to tune into Monday’s pre-match press conference, which will be published on the club’s YouTube channel.
Head-to-Head
Sutton United Wins: 0
Cambridge United Wins: 1
Draws: 0
Down Memory Lane
Due to plying their trade in non-league as recently as 2020/21, the sides have never went toe to toe at Gander Green Lane, with Tuesday providing a new ground tick and the chance to make new memories.
However, the Amber and Chocolates have met the Amber Army on just one occasion previously. That came in an FA Cup First Round tie in November 2017 when - despite playing with ten men for 50 minutes after George Maris received a second yellow card for simulation – United claimed a slender 1-0 win courtesy of Jabo Ibehre in front of 3,070.
Speaking on that Sunday afternoon, boss Shaun Derry hailed it a “fantastic win” and stated: “It was a win when we had to show different sides of our abilities… it (the sending off) put us on the back foot and we had to change our way for the remaining parts of the game but the goal directly after it gave us a fantastic platform to build.”
Officials
Referee: Daniel Middleton
Assistant Referee: Stephen Brown
Assistant Referee: Andrew Hickman
Fourth Official: Paul Kelly