Bruce boys are among casualties of big chill
YESTERDAY’S Championship fixture list had to be torn apart after the past week’s icy weather saw just FIVE games survive the big freeze.
The matches at Aston Villa and Wolves were late victims of the ‘Beast from the East’ yesterday morning, joining the four scheduled meetings that were already postponed.
Snow and ice wiped out the Barnsley v Norwich City, Brentford v Cardiff, Ipswich v Hull City and Sheffield United v Burton matches.
The only games to survive the chill were at Bolton, Bristol City, Derby County, Millwall and Nottingham Forest.
Villa’s visit from Queens Park Rangers was called off amid fears over public safety, with various areas around Villa Park affected by heavy overnight snowfall.
It was a blow for Steve Bruce’s promotion-chasing Villans, who occupied third place in the Championship table yesterday morning.
The fixture has already been rearranged for Tuesday, March 13.
Runaway leaders Wolves were another team forced to call off their game with Reading early yesterday, despite not being scheduled to kick-off until 5.30pm.
Despite club staff and volunteers pitching in throughout the day and night in a bid to save the game it was decided conditions were still too dangerous for the match to go ahead.
Molineux managing director Laurie Dalrymple said: “Whilst challenging weather conditions up and down the country had already forced a number of fixtures to be postponed we were determined to get this one on.
“A number of dedicated individuals gave up their time and effort yesterday to help make that a possibility.
“However, the safety of both home and away supporters and the numerous matchday staff has to take precedence and after the dreadful and dangerous weather failed to cease, we have been left with no choice but to postpone this fixture.
“Unfortunately it is not just Molineux that has been affected but the surrounding areas are extremely treacherous, including many of the city car parks which are presently unusable.
“With Wolves fans travelling from all over the country and Reading supporters coming up from Berkshire, we have made the decision to call the game off now rather than wait.”
No new date has yet been arranged for the fixture.