Albion versus Manchester City has been a landmark fixture down the years.

It was the last top-flight game staged at the Goldstone and the first at the Amex.

It was a farewell for both Bruno and Vincent Kompany when City won the Premier League title two years ago.

It produced the first hat-trick at the Amex by a visiting player when Raheem Sterling enjoyed himself last summer.

But the last one was a soulless, depressing no-contest as players’ calls echoed around the empty stands.

Now prepare for something rather more uplifting.

Fans will return in decent numbers when City head south a week on Tuesday and Albion have told the lucky nearly 8,000 what match night will look like.

Protocols will be in place and entrance and exit could take longer than usual.

A home win, unlike those previous City visits, would top things off nicely for Albion.

It promises to be a special night as the stadium hosts its final game of what has seemed a long and lonely season amid the empty stands.

Tickets are being sold via a ballot system and advice on how the match will work has featured on the club’s website.

Chief executive and deputy chairman Paul Barber told The Argus: “The first thing is the medical questionnaire.

“That will have to be completed and effectively they are declaring they don’t have Covid symptoms and they haven’t travelled abroad and they haven’t come into contact with people with Covid symptoms.

“That is clearly the most important priority.

“When they get to the stadium, they are going to be asked to follow the guidelines set by the stewards in terms of distancing.

“We want people to stay outside as much as possible so no gathering in the concourse areas drinking. There won’t be beer available.

“When they are outside, stay in the seats that are designated to them.

“What we don’t want are people taking the situation into their own hands and moving seats because that will start to break the regulations we have been asked to follow.

“We want to make it as enjoyable as possible but, at the same time, as safe as possible.

“It’s really important people follow the guidelines for that to happen.”

No away fans will be present as gates re-open for the final two round of fixtures.

That includes Albion’s trip to play Arsenal before 10,000 at the Emirates.

The Seagulls would have been happy to welcome Manchester City supporters.

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Barber said: “It’s a shame but there were some clubs in the Premier League who were struggling to get agreement to accommodate away fans from their local authorities.

“In that regard I think the Premier League have taken the right decision in that we should all have exactly the same conditions.

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“We would have been very happy to welcome Manchester City fans here but the positive of not having to is we can accommodate more home fans, which is obviously good news.”

Albion welcomed 2,500 fans for the pre-season friendly against Chelsea, then 2,000 apiece for two league games late in 2020.

But this will be the largest gathering at the stadium since February of last year.

Barber said: “From what I understand, tickets are selling very well.

“I think people have got a large amount of pent-up demand to get back to a normal life, first and foremost, but football being very much a part of that.

“To welcome Manchester City is a big game in itself. We will be seeing one of the best teams, if not THE best team in Europe at the moment.

“That gives us a challenge, as a club, to play against that team.

“But I think, for our fans, what a nice way to come back to watch live football again.”