SAM Allardyce today sympathised with the thousands of Wanderers fans who snubbed Saturday's FA Cup clash with Sunderland.

Bolton attracted just 10,123 supporters through the turnstiles, with almost 3,000 visitors travelling from Wearside.

But the gate was not helped out by pre-match speculation Allardyce would choose to play a predominantly second-string 11.

Allardyce said: "It was not a surprise really because up to the game both sides said that for one reason or another they would not have their strongest team out."

Wanderers did cut prices in all sections of the stadium with adult and concession tickets in the West and East Stand knocked down by £7.

A spokesman said: "There were reductions and we did everything that we could to encourage a healthy crowd. It was a bitterly cold day, Christmas has just been and gone and fans did not come for their own reasons.

"Our attendance was consistant with the low gates at Fulham, Aston Villa and Manchester City."

Wanderers will face the Black Cats in the replay at the Stadium of Light on Tuesday, January 14, kick off at 7.45pm.

Meanwhile a report in one Sunday newspaper that Bolton are on the verge of signing Swedish defender Marcus Lantz from German club Hansa Rostock has been dubbed "speculation".