Bristol Rovers’ League One fixture with Charlton Athletic is set to go ahead after a second pitch inspection was conducted at The Valley on Saturday morning.
Charlton had asked for a referee to inspect their playing surface at 4:30pm on Friday, with pictures published on their website showing areas looking almost frozen. Matchday referee Sam Allison then conducted a further check at 10am on Saturday and is confident the game can go ahead.
Temperatures in south west London fell below freezing overnight, and there was also some concern around the safety of the roads outside of the ground, but Allison believes the improving weather will help further improve the suitability of the pitch, although a third "precautionary" check will take place at 12:30pm.
"This afternoon’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Bristol Rovers is set to go ahead with a further, precautionary pitch inspection is set to take place at 12.30pm," a Charlton statement read. "The club asked for an FA referee to inspect the pitch at The Valley on Friday afternoon.
"The referee decided that the game should go ahead as planned, on the condition that there was a morning pitch inspection to evaluate the impact the overnight conditions had on the pitch.
"That second pitch inspection took place on Saturday morning at 10am with today’s referee Sam Allison. Allison was satisfied that more than half the pitch is playable already and was confident that the work of the club's staff and improving weather will have a positive impact on the remaining areas of the pitch, which he will review again, as a precaution, at 12.30pm
"The club will keep supporters updated with progress."
Rovers’ supporters coaches had left Bristol earlier this morning, on a weekend when train strikes, due to a dispute over pay and conditions, have impacted the public transport system.
At the time of writing, three fixtures in League One have fallen victim to the weather: Peterborough United vs Shrewsbury Town, Cheltenham Town vs Lincoln City and Port Vale vs Accrington Stanley all called off due to a frozen pitch.
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