By james art Looking to cause an early upset in this contest, Sutton United from the National League will welcome League One Birmingham City at Gander Green Lane for a first round clash at FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
The U’s are struggling in the fifth tier during the 2024-25 campaign, while the Blues are threatening to escape the chase group in the third tier.
Match preview
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After a three-year stint in League Two between 2021 and 2024, Sutton United suffered relegation back to the National League during the 2023–24 campaign, finishing 23rd in the fourth tier, three points behind safety Colchester United on 22 th place
Since returning to non-league football, the U’s have endured a mixed run of form, winning six and losing six of their 16 National League games, while sharing the spoils with their opponents on four occasions.
As a result, Sutton currently sit 12th in the National league table after 16 games of the program, three points behind Yeovil in the lowest places in the play-offs.
The U’s had to beat seventh-tier opposition in the final round of qualifying to reach the first round, with goals from Matt Rush and Josh Kohli helping Sunday’s hosts to a 3-1 win at Chertsey Town in Surrey.
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Back in the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in three decades, Birmingham City go into this weekend’s away trip to Gander Green Lane in sensational form, with the visitors remaining unbeaten in five League One and EFL Trophy games, a spell which has included emphatic success over Fulham Under 21s on Tuesday night.
An exceptional Japanese wing brace Ayumu Yokoyama was the highlight for the Blues last time, with Chris Davis‘s troops blast seven goals past the helpless Cottagers in front of a passionate crowd at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park.
Focusing on matters of League One, Birmingham are currently sitting well at the top of the third-rate rankingthree points clear of second-placed Wycombe Wanderers and four points clear of third-placed Wrexham.
The Blues will need to get through four rounds of the FA Cup to improve on their progress in this competition from last term, when Tony MowbrayThe side were beaten 3-0 at home by Leicester City after progressing past Hull City in the third round.
Sutton United FA Cup form:
Sutton United form (all competitions):
Birmingham City form (all competitions):
Team news
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Notching five goals in 16 National League appearances so far for Sutton this season, Will Davis will be looking to provide a magical moment in attack for the U’s this weekend.
After keeping a clean sheet in the fifth-tier success over Braintree Town last Saturday, the home side need to stick with a centre-back pairing Alex Kirk and Tyler French.
with Bailey Peacock-Farrell starting between the sticks against Fulham’s youngsters earlier in the week, Ryan Alsop should return to the goalkeeper post for Birmingham in Surrey.
After enjoying a break during the Cottagers’ strike, the half-back duo Tomoki Iwata and Paik Seung-ho are set to headline the blues show this weekend.
The visitors have several first-team stars back in training after injuries, including the captain Christian Bielik (ankle) and fellow defender Lee Buchanan (calf).
Sutton United possible starting line-up:
Sims; Collie, French, Kirk, Waller; Odelussi, Vac, Sivi, Nadesan, De Silva; Davis
Birmingham City possible starting lineup:
Allsopp; Laird, Klarer, Davies, Cochrane; Paik, Iwata, Williamson, Anderson, May; Stansfield
We say: Sutton United 0-2 Birmingham City
Despite the gulf in class between the two sides, Sutton are likely to make the competition a challenge for League One leaders Birmingham.
The Blues will be able to control the ball on the artificial surface at Gander Green Lane and should earn a place in the second round if they can avoid a full-blown battle.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match, please click here.