Ten-man Forest Green Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw in the capital this afternoon. Rovers were put ahead when Kyle McAllister converted from the spot after Ricardo Rees was brought down, being through on goal.

New signing Rees was shown a second yellow on 40 minutes for handling the ball on the line after trying to score.

Rovers had to dig deep for the rest of the game, but Sutton found a way through in the death to snatch a point after Jayden Harris bundled the ball in after a goalmouth scramble.

First Half

Sutton started the game with two notable half-chances, the best of which was a shot from David Ogbonna after cutting in from the left, but Tom Knowles blocked well.

The first chance for Rovers came after some hard work from Temi Babalola, who won possession and set the ball to Kyle McAllister. He played it forward first time to Ricardo Rees, who turned and laid it off to Jili Buyabu, but he could not beat the goalkeeper with his effort.

Harry Isted was forced into a fine save to deny Lewis Simper’s volley after Charlie Bell broke down the left and found the midfielder with his cross.

A fast break down the right for Rovers found Rees running into the box. He took his touch away from a sliding Callum Tripp, winning a penalty. McAllister calmly stepped up and, with his left foot, fired the ball into the bottom right corner in front of the Sutton fans.

Rees was again involved shortly afterwards, running in behind onto a pass from Buyabu. He cut onto his right foot and tried to curl the ball into the far corner, but Sims saved well for a corner.

A neat combination between Bunker and Knowles saw the full-back get in down the right. He picked out Buyabu, who controlled the ball in the area, and Rees latched onto the loose ball, but his effort flew over the bar.

A fluid counter-attack from Forest Green saw Rees wiped out on the halfway line by Besart Topalloj. Buyabu picked up the loose ball but was unable to find McAllister with his cross. Rees then slid in attempting to win back possession and was booked, along with Topalloj, for his earlier foul.

Babalola went close when the ball struck him from another Buyabu cross, sliding just the wrong side of the near post.

The hosts received another yellow card when Junior Eccleston went down under a challenge, which the referee, Callum Walchester, judged to be a simulation.

Rees again thought he had scored after rounding the goalkeeper and hitting the back of the net, but the linesman kept his flag down before the referee blew for handball. In his protests, Rees was shown a second yellow card and subsequently sent off.

Approaching the break, Topalloj produced a fine strike from distance, which was matched by an equally impressive save from Isted. Another long-range effort, this time from Hayden Muller, flew narrowly wide of the post.

Half-time: Sutton United 0–1 Forest Green Rovers

Five minutes into the second half, Babalola rose excellently to meet a Buyabu cross, but he could not keep his close-range header down, and it flew over the bar.

Sutton enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 20 minutes of the second half but was unable to create any clear-cut chances. Rovers remained resolute, with Isted facing very little in the way of shots on target.

Substitute Dubem Eze was Sutton’s main attacking outlet, but could only earn his side a few corners through deflected efforts.

With five minutes remaining, Tom Knowles produced a brilliant solo run but could only find a Sutton defender with his shot.

The home side then countered with a cross from the left that bounced around the box before finding Simper. His curled effort struck the crossbar, and the ball was then played to the back post. A flying acrobatic kick from Davide Rodari kept the ball in play before it eventually went behind for a Rovers goal kick off Jayden Harris.

In the 90th minute, Harris finished off a goalmouth scramble, converting from six yards.

It's a quick turnaround for Rovers, with Altrincham visiting TNL on Wednesday, 21st January.

Full-Time: Sutton 1 – 1 Forest Green Rovers

 Sutton: Sims, Tripp, Simper, Ogbonna, Taylor (C), Eccleston, Jennings, Njoku, Bell (58’ Harris), Topalloj, Muller (72’ Rodari).

Subs (not used): Haigh, Aziaya, Tizzard, Jones, Eze

Forest Green Rovers: Isted, Mendy (C), McAllister, Knowles, Bunker, Morrison (67’ Kircough), Buyabu (58’ Kengni), Nwoko (80’ Pemberton), Babalola (58’ Mitchell), Kanu, Rees (Sent off, '40).

Subs (not used): Pagel, Haughton, Clarke

Attendance: 2,300 (Away: 195)