HUNDREDS of Wanderers fans will be locked out of Saturday’s crunch clash with Sheffield United after more than 2,000 tickets were unexpectedly recalled.

The Blades announced on Monday morning that around 2,000 unsold tickets were now unavailable to away fans and being offered to their own supporters.

Wanderers were disappointed, claiming their initial allocation of 4,303 had included specific instructions from the home club on which order to sell them, starting in the top tier.

Tickets went on sale on February 6 and open sale four days later and would typically, remain on sale until 24-48 hours before a game. On this occasion, Sheffield United’s decision to close off the lower tier of the Bramall Lane Stand to away fans five days before the game caught the club, and a large number of their fans, by surprise.

An announcement was made that only 100 seats remained, which were snapped up inside an hour.

Many were left high and dry, however, and The Bolton News has received complaints from a number of supporters who had intended to travel to watch the game but are now unable to do so.

An official request was made by Wanderers – who took 2,437 to Bradford last weekend - to extend the deadline but was turned down.

A massive 27,980 supporters watched Sheffield United’s last home game with Scunthorpe, with the visitors were given both tiers of the away stand.

But the Blades closed the lower tier to away fans once before, when AFC Wimbledon visited earlier this month.