The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
No complaints from Dons boss as Livi visit is called off again
Aberdeen manager Derek Mcinnes attached no blame to Livingston as their Scottish Premiership game at the To n y Ma c a r o n i Arena was postponed after the scheduled kick-off time.
The artificial pitch was deemed “unsafe” by referee Steven Mclean after a downpour caused it to be waterlogged.
Ground staff had been sweeping water off the surface throughout the warm-up but Mclean’s last-minute pitch inspection led to discussions with both management teams and the game was called off.
It was a second wasted trip to West Lothian for the Dons – the game was originally scheduled for December 30 but was postponed on the day because of a frozen pitch.
Mc I n n e s said: “It looked dangerous, it is dangerous. The amount of water on the pitch is unusual, I think it caught us out to be honest. T h e r e’s no blame to Livingston here.
“We all agreed the pitch was unsafe and the only debate we had was whether we started it or delayed the game, but the forecast was that it was to remain like this all night.
“The groundsmen were sweeping off the water but they obviously couldn’t have done that once the game started. It was going to get worse.
“It’s a real frustration that we’ve come all the way down for the second time, but there’s no blame attached to Livingston.
“At no point during the day did we think there was any doubt.”
Mcinnes added:
“The referee, quite cleverly in my opinion, went around the senior players that he’s obviously known for a long time in my team and in the Livingston team and asked their opinion.
“Obviously, managers can influence this kind of thing, but the players expressed concern, the ref then asked the players if they thought the pitch was unsafe and dangerous and the consensus from all the players was that it was. And he’s right with that.”
The referee said the pitch was playable when he arrived two hours before kick-off but players “from both sides” felt the pitch was unsafe as rain fell during the warm-up.
Mclean added: “Unfortunately it’s really late in the day and it’s disappointing. But my concern is player safety and that has to be the number one priority.”
Livingston boss David Martindale was happy to start the game but understood the call.
“Aberdeen players had concerns but the majority of Livingston players were sitting saying they wanted to try and get the game played,” he added.
“Livingston players have got the benefit of playing on this pitch and training on it too when i t ’s been s i m i l a r. Aberdeen haven’t got that but I understand all parties.”
The late call-off came just days after St Johnstone called for an SPFL investigation when their game with Dundee United at Tannadice was postponed hours before Saturday’s kick-off.