THE fuel crisis and blockades could cause chaos to the weekend's football fixtures.

That's the warning from Sam Allardyce after Wanderers were almost caught out by one of the traffic-choking blockades en route to Grimsby last night.

With the team bus fuelled up, Wanderers left at 2 o'clock for the cross-country trip and arrived an hour ahead of schedule for a pre-match meal at a Hull hotel. But they ended up needing a police escort to the ground, arriving later than expected and having to phone ahead to warn that they would be handing in their teamsheet late for the second time this season.

"We set off early and flew over 'the tops'," Allardyce explained. "We arrived at the hotel an hour before our food was due but then the police rang us to say there were problems around Grimsby. We were late but it wasn't a problem, thankfully.

"But I think the fuel crisis will throw a lot of games into jeopardy. It's not just a matter of having fuel. Some teams might have to set off tomorrow to make sure they get to their games on Saturday."

Wanderers' fans caught up in blockades en route to Grimsby phoned local radio stations trying to get the kick off delayed. The match started on schedule forcing many late arrivals to miss the early action."