BLACKBURN Rovers have reluctantly decided to give Manchester City the whole of the Darwen End for the opening game of the Premier League season on August 15.

Rovers are offering 15-game season tickets in the lower tier of the Darwen End for £150 but had not previously decided which game would be the fourth match to be excluded from the deal – joining the fixtures against Burnley, Manchester United and Liverpool.

In their bid to launch the new Darwen End season tickets, the club had not wanted to give away the whole of the stand on the opening day of the season.

But City tradionally bring a large support and Rovers were not confident of selling out the lower tier with home fans.

Fans who have season tickets in the Darwen End will, however, be given complimentary tickets in another stand for that match.

Simon Williams, head of commercial and marketing, said: “We recognise that some season ticket holders may feel a little disappointed.

"It is not the way we would have chosen to start.

“However, while overall season ticket sales have increased year-on-year, projected sales do not lead us to believe that we can fill that end with home fans for the City game given that it comes so early in the season – with many people still away on holiday.”