Saddlers game is postponed

Walsall's home clash with Norwich was postponed this afternoon due to a frozen pitch – just 55 minutes before kick off, writes Nick Mashiter.

Referee Mark Haywood called the game off due to safety concerns – despite the Banks's Stadium ground staff working on the pitch since 8am.

It is the second postponement in two days after the Saddlers' Boxing Day game at Bristol Rovers was also called off.

Haywood said: "There was an element of risk if we played the game regarding player safety and I wasn't prepared to take the risk.

"I can only apologise for the lateness because the ground staff have tried so hard to get the game on."

Walsall boss Chris Hutchings believed the pitch was better than the home game with Leyton Orient nine days ago and wanted to play.

He said: "I think the pitch was better than what it was against Orient. It's disappointing, as soon as I walked on the pitch I felt it would have been playable.

"A lot of people put a lot of hard work into it but we have to go along with it."

Norwich boss Paul Lambert was unsure whether the game should have gone ahead and stuck by the official's decision.

"Some is fine but there are other parts which are firm and the referee calls it the way he sees it," he added.

"We don't want to take a risk."

Saddlers striker Darren Byfield was shocked by the decision. He wrote on his Twitter page: "Game has just been called off. I am in my kit."