Sutton boss and Spurs fan Matt Gray dreaming of another Wembley day out

Matt Gray has been to Wembley plenty of times before.

The Sutton United manager is a born and bred Londoner who has visited both old and new venues ample times, as a supporter of Tottenham Hotspur for various cup finals and during the club's recent extended stay as tenants.

But Gray, who was in Spurs' academy as a youngster, is now dreaming of a first trip to the national stadium for work purposes.

Plucky Sutton are in their first-ever season in the Football League - and they have surpassed all expectations so far.

They are in the heady heights of the automatic promotion spots in League Two and on Tuesday night they break further new ground when they travel to Wigan Athletic in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy.

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Victory over a side sitting second in League One would ensure a first trip to Wembley in a work capacity for Gray - and continue Sutton's incredible rise.

"I've not been fortunate enough to go there yet in a coaching or managerial capacity," Gray told Mirror Football, when asked about the prospect of Sutton making the short 16-mile hop to Wembley for the April 3 final.

"As a Spurs fan, I went to the League Cup final in 1999 at the old Wembley. And I've been to plenty of England games at the old Wembley too.

"I've been to many games, as well as the new Wembley with Tottenham playing there for a period, so many, many good experiences of Wembley.

"Hopefully I can have another one, this time in a managerial capacity."

Sutton have certainly enjoyed themselves so far in this season's competition winning all six games, conceding just once in that period.

But they are likely to face their sternest test yet when they head to the DW Stadium.

Wigan's clear aim this season is promotion back to the Championship. However, they have a good record in the Trophy - winning it in 1985 and 1999 - and to get to this stage they sent a message out by hammering Oldham 6-0 in the last-16 before seeing off Arsenal's under-21s in the quarter-finals.

Gray added: "We've had a great run in this competition and only let one goal in during that time - and even that was an own goal from a corner!

"It probably emphasises the strength in depth we've got in our squad, being able to freshen it up and not really noticing a weakness.

"If you're going to get to a cup final, especially one at Wembley, then you're not going to have any easy games along the way.

"To go and play Wigan who are flying in League One, it's going to be an extremely tough game for us.

"Of course, we respect them but we certainly don't fear them. We'll be going there with the massive carrot of being one game away from Wembley."

The other semi-final on Wednesday sees Rotherham, winners in 1996, travel to Hartlepool.