Saturday’s game at Peterborough United has been postponed after Posh informed the EFL they would not be able to fulfil the fixture after an unnamed player tested positive Covid-19 and the subsequent requirement for their other players and staff to self-isolate for 10 days.

In a statement on their website, Posh announced that their next three games are off: “Peterborough United can confirm that our scheduled Sky Bet League One fixtures with Ipswich Town, Gillingham and Charlton Athletic have been postponed.

“The club can confirm that an unnamed player has tested positive for Covid-19 and three others are displaying symptoms. The safety and health of our players is paramount. The club have notified the EFL of the postponements.

“The next scheduled league fixture is on 2nd January 2021 against Doncaster Rovers at the Weston Homes Stadium. The club will be making no further comment.”

In addition to the player who has tested positive, three more are understood to be showing symptoms.

Details regarding the new date for the fixture will be released in due course, according to Town with Blues next in action against Northampton at Portman Road on Boxing Day.

Fans who have bought an iFollow match pass for the Peterborough match will be automatically refunded.

Although the postponement will lead to further fixture congestion for the Blues, Town might have some of their currently injured players available by the time the game is played.

Prior to the decision to call the game off, manager Paul Lambert spoke about going into the busy period of Christmas fixtures which he believed would be even tougher than usual.

“Any other time, apart from this year, I’d have given you the same answer, that it’s a tough time because of the number of games you’re playing,” he said.

“But it’s doubly tough because there are no fans, nobody knows if there’s a shutdown coming, nobody knows if there’s going to be a lockdown again, nobody knows what injuries you’re going to have. Nobody knows what Covid tests are happening, all those sorts of thing. This is doubly hard at the minute.”

Reflecting on visit to London Road with Posh third and the Blues fifth but both on 32 points, top points behind leaders Hull, he added: “We know we’re going to have to really play well. We’d have to play well with our strongest team.

“We’re going there with maybe not the strongest team but we’ve got a big heart, and I think that’s a big thing. We’ve got a big desire.

“Is that going to be good enough? I don’t know, but they’ll have to match our desire as well and we’ll have to match them. It’ll be a hard game as well, they’re strong but we’re not a million miles away from it. So, it’s a really good game.”

Lambert played down summer reports that he was interested in signing Peterborough striker Jonson Clarke-Harris prior to his move from Bristol Rovers in the summer.

“If I had some of your wages I might have been able to buy him!" he joked. “Unless there was going to be money from somewhere, we can’t do it, we can’t do it.

“The lad’s a handful and he’s done well for them, but we couldn’t go and buy anyone.”

He added: “At the top end of the pitch, they’re strong, you can see that. We have to try and be ourselves and play in our own way and try and cause them problems as well. We know it’s a tough game.

“They’ve got some good players there without a doubt. Darren’s done well with them there.

“I think it shows you how well we’ve done with the problems we’ve encountered here that we’re round about it with them and that’s without most of our big hitters. As I say, I can’t be more happy with what the guys have given me.”

Photo: Action Images

ringwoodblue added 16:47 - Dec 18 I have mixed feelings about this news - on one hand, Sat afternoon isn't the same without Ipswich playing but on the other, it may be better not to play Posh right now with our ever-growing injury list so we have probably escaped a beating.
3

EatonBlue added 17:31 - Dec 18 I tend not to trust most things that come from Peterborough football club. They had planned to have supporters at this match but that was blocked when they moved to Tier 3 the other day. Presumably the Covid testing was done independently and verified?
1

leroy2488 added 17:42 - Dec 18 If this is allowed, could we not have cancelled games when our players had Covid/ had to isolate? The 10/15 injuries we have, may have made it a reasonable call? After the comments about suing people and massive fuss yesterday, unfortunately it makes you wonder if there is more to this.
0

masetheace added 18:17 - Dec 18 Another excuse for the same negative comments . Some folks on here really do need to get a life.
0

Europablue added 18:21 - Dec 18 ArnieM I know what you mean, but it sounds like there are more than the one confirmed case that have been in contact and are showing symptoms. I'm not sure if any of the top teams would choose not to play us now. It's a much tougher prospect to play us with a couple of players coming back.
1

istanblue added 18:45 - Dec 18 Yay we can inevitably lose to P'boro another week instead.
1

dirtydingusmagee added 19:10 - Dec 18 its covid and wont be playing , sinister conspiracy talk is a bit daft, its looking ever more serious and i can see another lockdown coming, this season was never going to run smoothly.
4

runningout added 19:31 - Dec 18 Frowning at this. Guess Peterborough don't fancy their chances, realising we have turned a corner! haha
1

Kickingblock added 19:31 - Dec 18 It has to be true, they would have been looking forward to this fixture. I'm sure they would be penalised if it turned out to be gamesmanship.
1

PinstripeBlue added 19:50 - Dec 18 Where will we be in the league come Boxing Day? A number of teams below us with games in hand. I am hoping for 7th.
0

Bergholt_Blue added 20:51 - Dec 18 Nothing to do with their Chairman moaning about playing behind closed doors been unfair ?
0

Lathers added 00:27 - Dec 19 I hate a Saturday without a game, but this has done us a favour. We now have a run of very winnable games (excluding Fleetwood away). Massive few weeks ahead. After beating Burton, can Town finally put together some real promotion form and win 4 or 5 on the spin?
0

WhoisJimmyJuan added 09:19 - Dec 19 And at least it gives us a break from Dolphinblue, if not Bluebarmy.
-1

Razor added 11:32 - Dec 19 Its just that Pboro are a better run club and get top dollar when they sell players----they actually spent some of the money they got for Ivan Toney-----good business. At least a stress free Saturday!!
2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls