Ref comes under fire after last-ditch call-off

Referee Steven Reid came under fire from all quarters at Cappielow yesterday.

He turned up late, then held a 10-minute pitch inspection in his shoes before calling off the match between Morton and Queen of the South just 70 minutes before kick-off.

The only surface water obvious was a strip on the stand-side and, when the ref and his assistants held their inspection, it appeared they only threw a ball up on one wing and at the corner flags.

It seemed they also didn’t even bounce the ball in the penalty areas.

Both managers and Morton’s chief executive Davie Mackinnon lambasted Reid for the late postponement.

Morton boss David Hopkin said: “You can walk on the pitch. There’s nothing wrong with it.

“There was one area on the nearside that was wet. It is frustrating, especially when the referee didn’t turn up until 1.45pm.

“People are travelling from Dumfries. It’s not good enough.

“We were in early and we knew the game would be on, the pitch is in fantastic condition. The whole pitch is more than playable.

“We have played in worse conditions. It’s a poor decision. It was the same midweek when we played Dundee United and the game went ahead.

“I was surprised to see the referee and his assistants inspect the pitch just in shoes and not even in boots. It was because they were late.

“All the players are frustrated because they wanted it to go ahead.”

Minutes after under-fire referee Steven Reid called the match off, the entire Morton squad held a full training session on the pitch under the guidance of assistant boss Anton

McElhone, and the pitch didn’t even cut up, the ball moved freely and the rain went off totally.

McElhone said: “Let’s get a picture of us training on this and put it on Twitter. The rain is off and the game should be on.”

Queen’s head coach Allan Johnston was just as angry and said: “It wasn’t that bad. If there had been any doubt we should have had a pitch inspection a bit earlier.

“Both managers thought it wasn’t too bad. The referee has looked at the forecast and that was probably a factor. When you look at the pitch it looks good.

“I’ve played in worse conditions. The majority of the fans will have been more or less here when it was called off.”

Morton chief executive Davie Mackinnon said: “This will cost the club a five-figure fee in lost revenue in hospitality, catering, security. And when the match is replayed we will not get anywhere near as many fans. It dumbfounds me.”