‘It’ll be pretty embarrassing to get out-sung by Pompey’ – These Sunderland fans react to low ticket sales blow

Ticket sales for Sunderland’s home leg of the League One play-off semi-final with Portsmouth remain low with just two games to go to the crunch match.

The Sunderland Echo reports that just under 22,000 had been snapped up by 6 pm on Thursday. That is despite the club having over 24,000 season ticket holders.

Sunderland are expecting sales to pick up as kick-off approaches, but the low figure remains a concern. Their lowest attendance so far this season was 27,580 for the clash against Blackpool in February, and most games had topped the 30,000 number in a season which started with much hope but ended in disappointment for many fans when the Mackems missed automatic promotion after a poor late-season run of form saw them finish fifth.

It could be argued the figure is even more surprising given that the Wearsiders sold around 40,000 tickets for the EFL Trophy final at Wembley and recorded this season’s highest crowd outside the EFL when 46,039 took their seats at the Stadium of Light for the visit of League One strugglers Bradford City.

The low figure appears to be a blow for the club with both Jack Ross and ex-striker Stephen Elliott issuing rallying calls in the Sunderland Echo for supporters to get behind the team ahead of the crucial game.

The Real EFL recently highlighted issues with the ticketing system, but this cannot be the sole explanation for the low sales which has caused some consternation amongst supporters on social media.

Twitter reactions on the subject range from anger and frustration with other supporters to concerns how the likely subdued atmosphere will have on the team’s performance in what is by far their biggest game of the season.

Some fans defended their decision not to go, and the whole issue seems to have caused divisions amongst the supporters at the worst possible time, with passions on the subject running high.

Here is a selection of responses by supporters to the news on Twitter.

Really hope there’s a late run on tickets for tomorrow night. Very disappointing crowd at the moment, and it’ll be pretty embarrassing to get out-sung by Pompey in our biggest home game of the season #SAFC

— Daley™ (@__Daley__) May 10, 2019

Weird run up to tomorrow’s game this week, and people claim the players have bottled it? #safc

— David Boyle (@davidboyle1985) May 10, 2019

there's probably a few things contributing to slow ticket sales tbh:
The Sunderland 10K, Prices, KO time, and the "couldn't care less" feeling.

perfect storm #safc

— D@ve F (@davey_lad) May 10, 2019

No one can tell me that a big noisy crowd can't help the team on the pitch. The players will be down in the dumps lacking confidence and seeing such a paltry crowd is hardly going to inspire them. Advantage Pompey before a ball is even kicked #safc

— Parker (@Parkersafc) May 10, 2019

https://twitter.com/RobBell09761311/status/1126772316744982528

The lads need everyone's support tomorrow and there's only 21 000 + going… Absolutely shocking when we've had more in the league the whole season.. Bet you all want bloody Wembley tickets if we get there though.. 😳 #SAFC

— Sarah👸 (@Sarah_ham96) May 10, 2019

What if after a mediocre season we had managed to qualify for the playoffs by winning the last game. Surely there would be a near sell out for the first leg. Why all of a sudden have fans become stay aways. Don't understand it for most important game of the season.

— John Atkinson (@JATK17) May 9, 2019

https://twitter.com/Deanospamoni85/status/1126619033636352000

No idea why you are getting pissed off. The posts I have read accept that there are many reasons why fans cant make it but its the ones who can and wont that piss me off.

— SunderMad (Aka cyprussyd) (@SunderMad) May 10, 2019

https://twitter.com/RobBell09761311/status/1126772316744982528