Manchester City jumped to the top of the English first division with a 3-1 victory at Sheffield United yesterday after Burnley's game against Bradford City was frozen off.
Second-half strikes by Shaun Goater - his 24th of the season - Eyal Berkovic and Shaun Wright-Phillips lifted Kevin Keegan's side on to 52 points from 27 games, two points clear of Burnley who have a game in hand.
With third-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers' game at Crewe also postponed due to a frozen pitch, Norwich City, like Wolves on 49 points, missed the chance to close on the leaders when they were held 1-1 at home by struggling Walsall. David Nielsen made it five in as many games to put the Canaries in front but when they failed to clear a second-half corner, Andy Tillson banged in the loose ball to earn the Saddlers a point.
Dark horses Millwall took full advantage to move on to 48 points with an excellent 4-1 win at Watford. Tim Cahill scored on his 150th league appearance, Richard Sadlier bagged his 14th of the season and Steven Reid put the Lions three up.
Heidar Helguson gave the Hornets a smattering of hope but it was snuffed out when Neil Harris scored Millwall's fourth, the striker's first goal since he returned to action following treatment for testicular cancer.
Daniele Dichio scored twice as West Bromwich Albion stayed in touch on 47 points with a thumping 4-0 success over bottom club Stockport County, who suffered their ninth consecutive defeat.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Darren Ward made several outstanding saves to help his side to a 1-1 draw at in-form Birmingham City, who lie seventh on 46 points.
Leicester City backed referee David Elleray's decision to postpone their home New Year's Day Premiership clash with Arsenal because of a frozen pitch.
Elleray made the decision to call off the game between the bottom and top sides in the division after a 2pm inspection at Filbert Street - three and a half hours before the scheduled kick-off.
Leicester officials had been confident their pitch covering would be sufficient to protect the surface for a match which was a 21,000 sell-out despite the sub-zero temperatures of the previous 48 hours.
But the pitch began to freeze as soon as it was exposed to the elements and left Elleray with little choice but to postpone the game.
Manchester United have agreed to extend goalkeeper Nick Culkin's loan spell at Livingston by another month.
The 23-year-old arrived earlier in the season when first choice Javier Sanchez Broto broke an ankle.
The Spaniard is nearing a comeback but manager Jim Leishman revealed he would like the Englishman to stay even longer.
Niall Fitzgerald, who has received an honorary knighthood in Britain's New Year honours list, was founder and manager of Limerick schoolboy club Riverside FC.
Fitzgerald founded the club when aged 16 and he guided them to many honours in Limerick schoolboy football. He was the youngest ever manager of a soccer team in Limerick.
He received his knighthood for his contribution to business in the UK. Shortly after leaving Limerick he graduated from UCD and in 1965 joined the Unilever group, becoming chairman five years ago.
