FANS were yesterday flocking to snap up tickets for Sunderland's play-off game against Crystal Palace.

The Black Cats hope to make an immediate return to the Premiership, following relegation last season, after finishing in third place in Division One following the final league fixtures, on Sunday.

Sunderland face sixth-place Crystal Palace over a two-leg semi-final, starting at the South London side's Selhurst Park ground on Friday, at 8pm.

The return match is at the Stadium of Light, on Monday, also at 8pm, with a place in the final, at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, on Saturday, May 29, for the victors.

Season ticket holders were invited to apply for tickets by Thursday last week, at which point they did not know who Sunderland would be facing.

Queues formed at the stadium ticket office yesterday as the remaining tickets went on sale.

The ticket office will be open from 10am to 5.30pm, from Monday to Friday, and between 10am and 1pm, on Saturday and Sunday.