Town boss Roy Keane says everyone at Portman Road is disappointed after the Blues’ home game against Watford was called off due to a frozen pitch. Groundsman Alan Ferguson had utilised the tent which covers the pitch and accompanying hot-air blowers in the days up to the game but freezing areas of the surface in front of the Cobbold Stand led to the late postponement.
Keane said: "As a club we are obviously disappointed. The players have done their preparation work but when I got to the ground and saw the officials on the pitch, I had an idea we might not make it.
"It's disappointing for everyone. The fans who have travelled, Fergie will have his pride at getting games on. I think that's the first one off here since 1999.
"I think the referee [Grant Hegley] might have been a bit conscious of last week's game and thought 'Listen, I'm not going to start the game in case someone scores early'. It was a case of if in doubt perhaps.
"There were parts of the pitch frozen. It's down to the referee whether he thinks the pitch is playable or not. I don't think managers should get involved in any of those decisions. They are down to the officials.
"He didn't put himself under pressure timewise. He gave it as long as he could. He made the decision and we move on.
"It's been a strange few days for us, with Murph and Shane getting injured and then game being called off."
The Blues lost keeper Brian Murphy to a broken ankle which will keep him out for three months in training on Thursday and then midfielder or full-back Shane O’Connor suffered a dislocated shoulder which will sideline him for six weeks on Christmas Eve.