Soccer:Blackpool's televised Premier League match against Manchester United tomorrow has been postponed because of concerns about the Bloomfield Road pitch. Temperatures dipped below minus eight last night meaning the Seasiders' attempts to make the pitch playable, using protective covering and hot-air blowers, were in vain.
The match was officially called off this afternoon after referee Peter Walton carried out an inspection this afternoon. This weekend’s Football League programme has been ravaged by the weather, but this was the first Premier League game to fall.
A statement on the club’s website, www.blackpoolfc.co.uk, read: “Mr Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed.”
United manager Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, believes Ian Holloway deserves to be applauded for the job he is doing at Blackpool. Ferguson was full of praise for Holloway’s achievements this season when he was asked to assess the Premier League newcomer’s progress.
“What is happening at Blackpool is unbelievable,” Ferguson said. “They are attacking every team, they are having a go and are scoring goals. What more can you say about them. Ian Holloway has done a fantastic job. He brought Charlie Adam down from Glasgow when nobody seemed to want him. He is one of the best players in the league. He is having a fantastic season.
“Ian took Craig Cathcart from us. He is a terrific lad and a good player. He also got him for a song. Ian has done his homework very well and is getting his rewards for it. He has taken a chance on players and they are rewarding him for giving them an opportunity to play in the Premier League.”
Ferguson, reflecting on the 4-0 Carling Cup defeat against West Ham, said: “A few years from now these players will go down there and win that kind of game. That is what experience gives you. It was not a 4-0 scoreline.
“We had the most possession, we had the most entries into the penalty box. They had six strikes at goal and scored four. We defended poorly. You cannot afford that in a cup tie. The only positive out of it was that Ryan (Giggs) and Darren (Fletcher) got a game. The only one who came up to standard was Anderson.”