The Football Supporters' Federation (FSF) has criticised the scheduling of fixtures after five Premier League clubs recorded their lowest league attendances for between two and five seasons in midweek, reports The Times. Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers suffered at the turnstiles as they staged their second home matches in four or five days. In a round comprising eight fixtures, only Tottenham Hotspur, Burnley and Birmingham City avoided such an ignominy on their own ground.

It was the Premier League's first midweek round of matches in December - pre-Christmas - since 1993 and Malcolm Clarke, the FSF chairman, was not surprised at the low turnouts.

"In a period of recession, with unemployment rising, and just before Christmas, to fork out for two Premier League games is a pretty high outlay for those who don't have a season ticket," he said. "The low attendances are a consequence of that."

A Premier League spokesman said: "The compilation of the fixture list is complicated and all clubs take an active part in the process ahead of the fixtures being announced."