Albion's hopes of getting extra tickets for fans for Sunday's make-or-break game at Grimsby have been dashed by local police.

They have refused the Seagulls more tickets than the 2,340 already received for the must-win match at Blundell Park for security and safety reasons.

A Grimsby FC spokesman said: "We were willing to offer another section of the ground. It would obviously be in our financial interests, but police put a stop to that."

Tickets for Seagulls supporters were allocated by Albion via a postal ballot. The club have abandoned plans to beam the match back to Coral greyhound stadium in Hove as it is now being televised live on Sky Sports Extra.

The other crucial relegation clash between Stoke and Reading at the Britannia Stadium, also a 1.30pm kick-off, is being shown on Sky Sports 1.

The Seagulls and Reading pocket £10,000 each as the away teams and Grimsby and Stoke £60,000 apiece.

Reading manager Alan Pardew, who played under Albion chief Steve Coppell at Crystal Palace, has pledged his side will not take their foot off the pedal.

The Royals are guaranteed a play-off place after beating Grimsby at home on Saturday, but Pardew said: "We're not going to ease off.

"We are professional enough to know these are important issues for the clubs at the bottom, so it's only right that we approach the game properly. It's important for us to enter the play-offs on a winning streak."

Reading play at Watford tomorrow night.

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