HUNDREDS of Sunderland fans queued round the block to secure their seat at Wembley as the club’s first League Cup Final tickets went on sale today (Monday, February 3).

Season card holders with one or more loyalty points for attending away games have been able to buy one ticket for the Capital One Cup final against big-spending Manchester City from 9am.

The queue at the ticket office stretched way round the Stadium of Light all day as Black Cats die-hards buoyed by Saturday’s derby thrashing of rivals Newcastle United lined up to ensure they are part of Sunderland’s first cup final in 22 years.

Bookmakers have Gus Poyet’s team as 5-1 outsiders going into the March 2 final against Manuel Pellegrini’s free-scoring Sky Blues.

One fan queuing today said: “I don’t think anyone’s silly enough to think we’ll beat them, but it will be a good day out and we’ll see what happens.”

Another added: “It was Newcastle’s cup final on Saturday, but we’ve got bigger fish to fry.”

Anyone eligible for a ticket in the current phase is guaranteed a seat.

Fans with season cards but no loyalty points will be able to apply for one ticket per season card from 9am on Monday (February 10) until noon on Saturday, February 15.

If any of Sunderland's around 31,500 tickets remain after that, a further announcement will be made.

Tickets are priced £20 to £100 and can be booked at the Stadium of Light or by calling 0871-911-1973.

Meanwhile, East Coast, which is laying on extra trains to and from London on cup final weekend, has said it is highly likely the busiest services carrying football fans will be declared “dry”, with no alcohol allowed on or sold on board.

A spokesman said there would be a particular emphasis on trains returning north afterwards and the aim was to maintain safe conditions for all travellers.

Specific announcements will be made nearer the time.

National Express, which is running coaches between Sunderland and Wembley, has a no alcohol policy on all its services.