Albion are on course to sell out their allocation of 5,500 tickets for next month's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

More than 3,000 tickets have been snapped up for the Saturday March 17 tie (7.45pm).

Chief executive Paul Barber told The Argus: "They are going very well. Over 60 per cent have gone already so I think we are heading towards a fairly rapid sell-out, which is great. That is what we expected with the number we took and certainly hoped for.

"We are now coming up to just over 3,000 and we haven't even gone on sale to all the season ticket holders yet."

Albion were offered six different allocations - the one they took, four lower options and a maximum of 8,500 - with the cost of unsold tickets The Argus: to be met by the club.

Barber (above centre) said: "We would loved to have had 8,500 there but the kick-off time on a Saturday night is obviously not ideal. People have got a long way to travel home and it could go to extra-time and penalties as well, which was another consideration."

Meanwhile, United have agreed to let fans request to sit in L Stand for Albion's visit, the section of the stadium usually reserved for away supporters, following lobbying by the Manchester United Supporters Trust to improve the Old Trafford atmosphere which has been criticised by manager Jose Mourinho.