POLICE are urging soccer fans to get to Ewood Park early in a bid to avoid trouble and congestion before Saturday's crunch FA Cup clash with Sunderland.

Inspector Stuart Caley, from Blackburn Police's Football Planning Office, wants to avoid a repeat of the chaos which preceded Rovers last home game against Leeds United.

Thousands of home fans arrived just minutes before the kick-off, leading to congestion at the turnstiles and increasing the threat of trouble.

With nearly 8,000 away fans expected to make the trip from the North East, the authorities are hoping to minimise the prospect of a potentially hostile situation. Last time Rovers played Sunderland at home in 1997, an off-licence was looted by fans from the North East.

Inspector Caley said: "At the last game against Leeds spectators left their arrival at the ground until the last few minutes, which resulted in long queues at the turnstiles."

"This lateness can lead to frustration, which in turn, could result in public disorder.

"Fans seem to have got into the habit of leaving it late to arrive at the ground because the crowds haven't been too big recently.

"But we expect to see an almost capacity crowd for this match and it would be a shame if spectators missed the start of the game because they are queuing at the turnstiles.

"We also want to see fans get home as quickly and as safely as possible after the game so we are asking drivers to be patient."

Geoff Sutcliffe, the chairman of the Blackburn branch of the Licensed Victuallers Association, believes pub landlords will not be making extra security provisions.

"Nearly all the pubs near Ewood ban away fans and the area is very well policed so if there is any trouble it is more likely to be in the town centre," he said.

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