Stewart Donald's promise to Sunderland fans after club smash attendance record

At the close of play yesterday, 39.154 tickets had been snapped up for the Boxing Day fixture against Bradford City as the club close in on Charlie Methven's ambitious attendance target of 40,000.

Donald admits it is now 'very likely' that the club will hit that target as they look set to break the League One attendance record currently held by Leeds United.

38,356 people packed into Elland Road to watch the Whites beat Gillingham in 2008 in what remains a modern-day record for the third tier.

LIVE: Transfer latest as Sunderland target rejects contract offerBut with sales for Sunderland's clash against the Bantams already surpassing that number, it looks as if the Wearsiders will break that decade-long attendance record over the festive period.

And chairman Donald has heaped praise on the 'absolutely fantastic' supporters who helped the club hit this milestone - while also vowing that the players will 'give it everything' to repay their support in some vital fixtures over the coming weeks.

In a message posted on his Twitter account, Donald said: "Absolutely Fantastic.

"We are selling 1000 tickets a day & with the roll up on Saturday it looks very likely we will smash 40,000.

MORE: A brilliant insight into Luke O'Nien's character at Sunderland"Thank u to all the @SunderlandAFC fans for such a wonderful response. It is an important period and we will give it everything."

After the visit of Bradford, Sunderland welcome Shrewsbury to the Stadium of Light in another pivotal fixture.

That is followed by a trip to Blackpool on New Years' Day - when 7,000 travelling fans are set to roar on the Black Cats.