'Several miles of frozen pipes'

NEWS:THE ENGLISH Premier League matches at Blackpool and Everton fell victim to the cold weather yesterday.

Despite covers and hot-air blowers being employed over the last few days at the Bloomfield Road pitch – which does not have undersoil heating – an assessment of the playing surface yesterday morning showed there was no possibility of playing Blackpool’s game against Liverpool.

The match has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 12th, with an 8pm kick-off.

It is the third home match in succession this month that Blackpool have had to postpone because of the weather, having already had to move matches against Manchester United and Tottenham.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson took advantage of the day off to watch Manchester United’s victory over Sunderland. Liverpool visit Old Trafford for their FA Cup, third round, tie on Sunday, January 9th.

Everton’s game against Birmingham at Goodison Park was also postponed, because the freezing temperatures left the stadium in an unfit condition for the match.

The club reported there were “several miles of frozen pipes, many of which burst during the course of Christmas Day night”.

Championship strugglers Crystal Palace also had to sit out yesterday afternoon after their clash with Norwich at Selhurst Park was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

And despite Ipswich Town having played in thick snow at home to Leicester last weekend, Roy Keane had the weekend off after Ipswich had their game against Watford at Portman Road called off. Other Championship weather victims at the weekend were Scunthorpe’s game against Preston North End, Middlesbrough’s home tie against Nottingham Forest and Doncaster’s visit to Derby County.

The Scottish Premier League programme was missing two games, with Kilmarnock’s home game against Hearts postponed earlier this week and Dundee United’s clash with Hamilton falling yesterday morning because of a frozen pitch after a second inspection.