It’s wash-out in Perth as deluge sees clash KO’d
Malky Mackay’s hopes of the pitch when it’s wet anyway escaping the basement were has just tipped it that way. washed away by a last- gasp “We’ll have to wait and see Perth postponement. when it gets rearranged for.
The Ross County boss “We don’t want to be playing had targeted three points to catch-up on games because pull level with struggling the last thing we want is a St Johnstone in a massive clash backlog of fixtures.” set for yesterday afternoon. Whistler MacLean tried to
But, despite the morning buy as much time as possible deluge halting, match referee to give the game every chance. Steven MacLean called off But he explained: “When the clash just 50 minutes we arrived there was an area before kick- of f when the of the pitch saturated in the sodden McDiarmid pitch penalty area on the far side. failed a second inspection. “It was unplayable, there was
Staggies manager Mackay, a lot of sitting water and the who fancied his team’s ball wasn’t bouncing. chances of a win after posting “At 1.30pm the game was off just one loss in their last but we delayed the decision to f ive games, said: “We are let them do work on it, to see if disappointed for our fans who they could get it better. had travelled here as they had “But when we went and to battle snow on the A9. looked at it again, the ball still
“We got the shout at wasn’t bouncing.
1.15pm telling us about the “It’s an important game for pitch and it was in danger, both teams, player safety is a which is reasonably late. major factor and that leads us
“We’re disappointed to to a very difficult decision. It’s not play the game because very difficult for the supporters it’s actually good conditions but we have to make the to play a game now. decision on the pitch and with
“We discussed what the player safety in mind.” options were with the referee, If the clash isn’t rescheduled he did his job properly and he for this week then the next did what he had to do. chance to get it on will be the
“We had a conversation and midweek before Christmas. he gave it an extra half hour. “It was very heavy rain It comes after high winds in
“There was a point on the far when I was driving up to the Dundee caused damage to side, maybe five or 10 per cent stadium, it was very difficult Tannadice, forcing Dundee of the pitch, that wasn’t to see. United to close the Jerry Kerr playable at the moment. “There has been a lot of rain stand for Celtic’s visit today. “We have not been told when and it coming down on top of
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it’s rescheduled for but it won’t be Wednesday.
“I get that it’s the logistical chal lenges of clubs to get games on at three days’ notice so I’m not forcing that at all.”
Perth manager Cal lum Da v id s on wa s e qu a l l y disappointed at the late call-off but knows safety is the most important thing.
He stressed: “We have no complaints about it at all, the pitch is waterlogged in places.
“They tried to give it as much time as possible because both teams wanted to get it played.
“But when you look at the conditions and think about the safety of players, it was the right decision.