With their FA Cup run over and the transfer window closed, Stevenage were able to turn their attention fully to League Two - but were left frustrated by a draw at Sutton United.

The main positive from the 0-0 draw was the point but it was game lacking in quality and suffocated by the dark arts, the niggling fouls and physical battles.

And it will be a game that is soon forgotten by all of those inside Gander Green Lane.

There were two injury-related changes. Taye Ashby-Hammond and Terence Vancooten are both sidelined for a number of weeks and their spots in the starting line-up were taken by Jokull Adresson, making his debut, and Jonathan Tomkinson.

On top of that there were another two changes, Dan Sweeney (ill) and Danny Rose (sub) going out and Michael Bostwick and Luke Norris coming in.

New signings Josh Reid and Josh March were on the bench.

Sutton are a pugnacious outfit and certainly showed it in the first half, their physicality giving the Stevenage defence plenty of work to do.

Carl Piergianni wasn't complaining mind and there was lovely moment as he headed away another ball into the box, Omar Bugiel just giving him a friendly nudge that had both players smiling.

There was also one of the quickest bookings of the season, a tackle from Jordan Roberts around 30 seconds in getting him an early sight of the yellow card.

Chances were few and far between though. Andresson made one strong-handed stop to bat away a Bugiel drive and then late on he flew out of his goal to smother a shot having initially failed to claim a cross.

At the other end Max Clark had a glorious chance to nod Boro in front but as he came in unmarked, he could only head into the side netting and not into the rather large gap on the other side of the post.

Jamie Reid had Stevenage's other attempt, firing at Jack Rose on the turn.

Boro ended the half with the better possession but too often they put a cross from a dangerous position into the body of the first defender. 

They were also forced into a first-half change, Jake Reeves seemingly feeling the back of his right thigh and being replaced by Jake Forster-Caskey.

The former Charlton man spent a good 10 minutes during the break going through a rigorous warm-up with Alex Revell before dashing back to the dressing room to receive final instructions from the boss.

The second half had most of the possession with the away side but it continued to lack in quality.

Boro did look the more likely to grab something but never truly created anything.

In the end bookings was the only thing of note, Boro's Evans and assistant Paul Raynor among those earning the ire of the officials.

Positives for the away side will be the performance of Tomkinson while there were good minutes for Forster-Caskey and Horgan.

March's debut brought one header on goal but it was never going to test Rose in the home goal.

And the final whistle simply brought relief for the watchers.

 

Stevenage: Andresson, James-Wildin, Clark, Reeves (Forster-Caskey 45+1), Piergianni, Norris (March 59), Roberts (D.Rose 59), Gilbey, Bostwick, Jamie Reid (Horgan 59), Tomkinson.

Subs (not used): Chapman, Taylor, Josh Reid.

Booked: Roberts 1, Evans 55, Raynor 58, Forster-Caskey 90+1.

 

Sutton United: J.Rose, Goodliffe, Boldewijn, Smith, Bugiel (Angol 83), Randall, Eastmond, Ajiboye, Kizzi, Milsom, Wilson (Dennis 72).

Subs (not used): House, Hart, Rowe, Beautyman, Kouassi.

Booked: Boldewijn 51

 

HT: Sutton United 0 Stevenage 0

Referee: Thomas Kirk (Manchester)

Attendance: