United wait to break 70,000 mark

Manchester United are set to fall just short of recording the Premiership’s first 70,000 gate.

The Red Devils had hoped enough seats would be opened in the new quadrants for the Old Trafford clash with Birmingham to allow them to set a new league record and possibly even eclipse 70,504 – the highest attendance to watch at United game at the Theatre of Dreams, against Aston Villa in 1920.

However, while some seats have been released by Trafford Council’s safety advisory group, they are not enough to take the potential capacity over the 70,000 mark and Birmingham’s failure to sell their entire allocation means United will have to wait until the visit of Arsenal on April 9 to smash through the barrier.

“Tickets are still being made available and will be on sale until kick-off time,” said a United spokesman.

“It appears we will fall short of the 70,000 attendance this weekend but we are confident of achieving it against Arsenal.”