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Both of this week's Carling Cup semi-finals have been postponed due to heavy snow and plummeting temperature across England.
Manchester City's first leg tie against Manchester United tomorrow has become the latest match to be called off because of heavy snow after Blackburn Rovers had announced tonight's tie with Aston Villa has been postponed.
Despite the Manchester derby tie being scheduled for tomorrow night at Eastlands, heavy snow meant there was no prospect of the game taking place. The tie will now take place on January 19, which was planned to be the date for the second leg. That match will now take place on Wednesday, January 27.
Blackburn had earlier called off their tie against Villa for safety reasons. Heavy snowfall between the North West and the Midlands have left roads treacherous so even if Blackburn’s undersoil heating had enabled play, supporters travelling to and from the game would have been endangered.
Blackburn have confirmed that tickets for Tuesday's match will be valid for the rearranged fixture, while fans who are unable to attend the new date can obtain a refund. Although a new date has yet to be confirmed, next midweek is a likely slot as neither club has an FA Cup replay. Villa, ironically, knocked Rovers out of the FA Cup last Saturday.
The rescheduling will offer Villa a boost as James Milner, their best player this season, was struggling to be fit because of a bruised foot and had not trained for a week. The additional time should allow the England midfield player to regain his fitness.
For Blackburn, El-Hadji Diouf would still be suspended next week as he is about to start a three-match suspension for being sent off in the 3-1 defeat at Villa Park last Saturday.
Rovers took advice from the Met Office and police before calling the game off.
"Since first thing on Tuesday morning we have been in constant contact with both the Met Office and police and have been monitoring both the weather and road network conditions in our area," the club said in a statement.
"Some roads around Ewood Park are currently inaccessible and even the motorways have only been passable with extreme care, with many travellers having already experienced lengthy delays and disruption.
"It is still snowing heavily in Blackburn, as it has been all morning, and advice locally is not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary and in addition severe weather warnings have being issued throughout the country.
"The weather forecast for the day states that we can expect more snow and freezing temperatures in Lancashire and that heavy snow is expected in the Midlands later in the day and will continue throughout the evening and early hours of Wednesday morning.
"Whilst the Ewood Park pitch is playable we believe it would be unadvisable to expect fans, staff etc to attempt to get to the match.
"Even if fans are able to get to Ewood Park we would not like to speculate on what type of journey home they may face at 10pm tonight when temperatures will be sub-zero."
Stoke City continue to monitor conditions for their Premier League fixture against Fulham tonight, but say they remain confident the game will go ahead.
"While the pitch itself is in good condition, staff are currently working to keep all the major approaches to the stadium clear of any snow and ice," a statement read. "The club are, however, aware of the forecast of snow late in the day and are keeping a close eye on bad weather affecting the north of the region."
Carling Cup semi-finals fall to the big freeze | Football - Times Online
Manchester City's first leg tie against Manchester United tomorrow has become the latest match to be called off because of heavy snow after Blackburn Rovers had announced tonight's tie with Aston Villa has been postponed.
Despite the Manchester derby tie being scheduled for tomorrow night at Eastlands, heavy snow meant there was no prospect of the game taking place. The tie will now take place on January 19, which was planned to be the date for the second leg. That match will now take place on Wednesday, January 27.
Blackburn had earlier called off their tie against Villa for safety reasons. Heavy snowfall between the North West and the Midlands have left roads treacherous so even if Blackburn’s undersoil heating had enabled play, supporters travelling to and from the game would have been endangered.
Blackburn have confirmed that tickets for Tuesday's match will be valid for the rearranged fixture, while fans who are unable to attend the new date can obtain a refund. Although a new date has yet to be confirmed, next midweek is a likely slot as neither club has an FA Cup replay. Villa, ironically, knocked Rovers out of the FA Cup last Saturday.
The rescheduling will offer Villa a boost as James Milner, their best player this season, was struggling to be fit because of a bruised foot and had not trained for a week. The additional time should allow the England midfield player to regain his fitness.
For Blackburn, El-Hadji Diouf would still be suspended next week as he is about to start a three-match suspension for being sent off in the 3-1 defeat at Villa Park last Saturday.
Rovers took advice from the Met Office and police before calling the game off.
"Since first thing on Tuesday morning we have been in constant contact with both the Met Office and police and have been monitoring both the weather and road network conditions in our area," the club said in a statement.
"Some roads around Ewood Park are currently inaccessible and even the motorways have only been passable with extreme care, with many travellers having already experienced lengthy delays and disruption.
"It is still snowing heavily in Blackburn, as it has been all morning, and advice locally is not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary and in addition severe weather warnings have being issued throughout the country.
"The weather forecast for the day states that we can expect more snow and freezing temperatures in Lancashire and that heavy snow is expected in the Midlands later in the day and will continue throughout the evening and early hours of Wednesday morning.
"Whilst the Ewood Park pitch is playable we believe it would be unadvisable to expect fans, staff etc to attempt to get to the match.
"Even if fans are able to get to Ewood Park we would not like to speculate on what type of journey home they may face at 10pm tonight when temperatures will be sub-zero."
Stoke City continue to monitor conditions for their Premier League fixture against Fulham tonight, but say they remain confident the game will go ahead.
"While the pitch itself is in good condition, staff are currently working to keep all the major approaches to the stadium clear of any snow and ice," a statement read. "The club are, however, aware of the forecast of snow late in the day and are keeping a close eye on bad weather affecting the north of the region."
Carling Cup semi-finals fall to the big freeze | Football - Times Online
