Leeds United were last night counting the cost of a futile trip after their UEFA Cup tie against Spartak Moscow fell victim to temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees in the Russian capital.
The financial burden of the two-night visit, an estimated £25,000, will be partially covered by UEFA in the wake of the decision by the Swedish referee Anders Frisk to deem the pitch at the Dinamo Stadium unplayable.
"I'm relieved for the players' safety," said manager David O'Leary. "There is no way the match could have been played."
But following UEFA's decision to replay the game in Sofia, Bulgaria, next Thursday - a move that flew in the face of requests from both clubs to play at Anfield 24 hours earlier - O'Leary's team are left to face an arduous fixture schedule.
A sequence of seven games in 20 days, commencing with Sunday's Premiership visit of Southampton, will fully test the depth and resolve of a O'Leary's squad.
Leeds' revised calendar now sees them play three Premiership games, plus two matches with Spartak and ties in the FA Cup and League Cup, between Sunday and December 18th.
