Sutton United manager Paul Doswell is hoping as many as 500 fans will roar the U’s on as they bid to claim another notable FA Cup scalp at Cambridge United in the first round on Sunday.

The club’s ticket office has done steady business since details of the eagerly-anticipated trip to the Sky Bet League Two side were announced with well over 400 tickets already sold to Sutton supporters and more are expected to be snapped-up at the turnstiles on matchday.

Sunday’s clash is set to be an intriguing match-up. Cambridge have lost two of eight home league games so far this season and their impressive recent form at the Abbey Stadium will be tested by a Sutton side that has lost just twice from nine road trips in the league.

The U’s have gained excellent results on their travels at former Football League clubs Tranmere Rovers, Wrexham, Dagenham and Redbridge and Aldershot Town, all of which should give them plenty of confidence going into Sunday’s game.

It's the second year in a row Sutton have been paired with the League Two side, with last season's fourth round draw pitting the U's or AFC Wimbledon against Cambridge or Leeds United. 

Leeds triumphed 2-1 while Sutton, of course, went on to dump the Dons out of the competition 3-1 in a replay before causing further shockwaves by beating the Yorkshire giants 1-0 at Gander Green Lane.

Having enjoyed so much success in last year’s competition which saw the U’s go out to eventual winners Arsenal at the fifth round stage, the Sutton boss is looking forward to the Cambridge test.

“It gives us two weeks off what is the pressure of the league and it’s an enjoyable game to prepare for,” said Doswell.

“Ultimately the FA Cup last year affected where we were in the league. For me this year, if we lost then it wouldn’t be the end of the world because it means we can concentrate on the league and the FA Trophy.

“But we’ll go there with our game plan and it’s a game everyone should look forward to."

With other clubs in this year's first round having their moment in the media spotlight, Doswell's team has gone under the radar this time and that is something the Sutton boss is hoping the U's can take advantage of. 

“It’s a free bet for us. Cambridge will be expected to win," he said.

"Their home form has been excellent but we know we’ve got enough in this team to compete. I am really looking forward to it, I have to say.

“I’m hoping to see 400 to 500 Sutton fans at Cambridge or as many up there as we can because we’re going to need that help.”

The U’s go into the match on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run following last Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Ebbsfleet United.

The game against the mid-table Kent side won’t live long in the memory and, despite a crowd of 2,197, was played in a rather subdued atmosphere.

With both defences proving hard to break down, the match sprung to life in the final 15 minutes when Sutton midfielder Kenny Davis saw his close range effort cleared off the line.

Louis John and Tommy Wright also threatened to break the visitors’ stubborn resistance but it just wasn’t to be.

The result sees Sutton sitting comfortably in fourth place in the Vanarama National League table just three points behind leaders Dover Athletic.

Doswell praised his players and gave his take on why the Ebbsfleet game was a rather tepid affair.

“I think where we’re at is a great credit to the players,” he said.

“We’ve played 19 games now and I think Premier League teams have played eight or nine.

“These are part-time players and yet they’ve been asked to play 19 games.

“When you question why a game lacks quality then it will lack qualty because these lads are asked to play a ridiculous amout of games at the start of the season.”

Cambridge United v Sutton United, Sunday, November 5, 2pm. For further details visit suttonunited.net.