Rovers are back on the road this Saturday as they head to South London to take on 4th place Sutton United in League Two action.

Here’s the lowdown on the Football League debutants, the U’s.

MEET THE MANAGER: MATT GRAY

Sutton United boss Matt Gray became the permanent manager of Sutton back in 2019, taking on his first full managerial role.

Gray played youth football for Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City growing up but failed to make a career for himself in the professional game.

He spent his six year career with the likes of Barnet, Havant and Waterlooville and Hayes but retired aged just 25 due to injury problems.

The 40 year old started his coaching journey as an assistant with Eastleigh after retiring and worked in the same role at Crawley Town and Aldershot.

Gray first landed at The VBS Community Stadium as a coach in December 2018 and just five months later was appointed manager after the departure of Paul Doswell.

In just his second full season, he helped the U’s to promotion to the Football League for the first time in the clubs career and his side have impressed against the odds.

KEY PLAYER: DAVID AJIBOYE

Sutton joint top scorer David Ajiboye signed for the club back in the summer of 2019 and like his gaffer Gray, won promotion in his second season in London .

The 23 year old joined Brighton and Hove Albion as a scholar in 2015 but was released by the Seagulls just three years later.

Ajiboye spent the following season with Worthing and impressed, returning to the Isthmian League Premier Division outfit after a previous loan spell.

The Bromley born marksman joined Sutton the season after and has had three impressive seasons with the U’s making over 100 appearances

The pacey winger has been a consistent performer this season having netted seven times and assisting three in his 26 starts.

FORM - DDWDW

18/01/22 – Sutton United 3-2 Colchester United

22/01/22 – Sutton United 0-0 Northampton Town

29/01/22 – Carlisle United 0-2 Sutton United

05/02/22 – Sutton United 1-1 Bristol Rovers

08/02/22 – Sutton United 0-0 Salford City

PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES

Omar Bugiel:

Lebanon international Omar Bugiel is best known around GL6 for his hand in helping Rovers to promotion during his one season at the club.

Bugiel moved to Bromley before signing for the U’s at the start of the 2019-20 season and gained another promotion to the 4th tier last term.

The striker returned to The Fully Charged New Lawn and scored on the opening day of this season, as his side fell to a 2-1 defeat to Rovers.

Dan Wishart:

29 year old Dan Wishart joined Rovers the at the start of the 2016-17 season and played over 50 games, including a substitute appearance in the play-off final that season.

Wishart played for Sutton on two different occasions either side of his time in Nailsworth, performing well which gained him the move to FGR.

The defender is now plying his trade with National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town two divisions below Rovers and the U’s.

Dale Bennett:

Right-back Bennett remains a fan favourite from his time at The New Lawn, making almost 200 appearances between 2013 and 2018.

He helped guide Rovers to promotion in 2016/17, playing 45 times before having an important role in the club's first season in the EFL.

Bennett joined Sutton in July 2018 and made 52 appearances over two seasons before announcing his retirement.

LAST TIME OUT

Sutton United were held to a 0-0 home draw against an improved Salford City side to extend their unbeaten league run to nine games.

Donovan Wilson had two great chances in the first half for the hosts but dragged his shot wide early on before hitting the post in added time before the break.

Keeper Dean Bouzanis got lucky in between those chances after he was disposed and conceded, only to be saved by the referee, who penalised Salford’s Brandon Thomas-Asante for handball.

A second period of half chances followed with either side able to find that all important goal to take the three points.

The stalemate leaves Sutton just two points outside the automatic places whilst the Ammies are 10th looking up to the play-off spots.

LAST TIME WE MET

An injury time winner from Ebou Adams helped Forest Green to a 2-1 win over Sutton on the opening day of the season back in August.

The first goal of the Rob Edwards era came on the 30 minute mark, as Matty Stevens opened his account for the season looping his header over the stranded Dean Bouzanis.

Into the second half and a familiar face had the away side back on level terms.

Former FGR striker Omar Bugiel’s diving header flew into the top corner after the cross from David Ajiboye down the near side.

Rovers hit the post in search for a winner and in added time, Adams glanced home a Regan Hendry free-kick to take the points at the death.

The win began a four match winning run for Rovers whilst the visitors lost what was their first EFL game in their history.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

FGR and Sutton United have only met on four occasions in their histories and first locked horns in 2016 upon the U’s return to the fifth tier for the first time since

Neither side have kept a clean sheet in those four games.

It’s Rovers who edge the record as things stand having won two of the meetings compared to Sutton’s one.

Rovers’ 2-1 against Sutton back in August was the sides first meeting in the EFL.