CHELSEA chairman Ken Bates is predicting that next week's FA Cup fourth round replay against Oxford United will be a sell-out.

Stamford Bridge holds just over 34,500 and tickets for the replay on Wednesday, February 3 (7.45) are expected to sell fast following the great drama of Monday's first match at the Manor Ground when Luca Vialli's Premiership leaders stayed in the competition by the skin of their teeth with a controversial late penalty equaliser.

United have taken 3,000 tickets for their fans.They are for the lower tier of the main stand, cost £20 each and there are no concessions.

Said ticket office supervisor Darren Bowler: "The next option would have been to take 6,900 but just as with Middlesbrough last year, these would not have been on a sale or return basis.

"Being a midweek game and with the prices they are, we could have been left with 1,500 tickets which, at £20 each, would have cost us £30,000. In the current financial climate that just wouldn't have been sensible."

Tickets are currently on sale to season ticket and priority pass holders until 5pm tomorrow - one per valid card.

Remaining tickets would go on sale to members from 9.30am on Friday until 3pm on Saturday.

If any tickets remain, they will go on open sale to personal callers at the final whistle of the Barnsley match on Saturday.

"The final details for Saturday depends on how many are left," Bowler said. "We will make an assessment on Thursday."

Story date: Wednesday 27 January

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