MIDDLESBROUGH face an idle weekend after last night's ill-fated FA Cup third-round replay between Notts County and Wimbledon was postponed only 45 minutes before kick-off.

Boro meet the winners in a round-four tie which has now been rescheduled for a fortnight tonight.

County football secretary Tony Cuthbert spoke of his frustration after referee Peter Walton called off last night's game at seven o'clock because of a waterlogged pitch.

Heavy showers had left Meadow Lane sodden, and Cuthbert said: "It got to the stage where there was too much surface water on the pitch.

"The rain was going to continue for another couple of hours. If it had stopped at 7pm it would have been OK.

"Wimbledon had arrived and it was frustrating for both managers. We've gone from a frozen pitch to a waterlogged one in three days.''

The sides were level at 1-1 when the tie was abandoned a week earlier after 50 minutes due to fog. It will now be played this Saturday.

Second Division County held their Division One opponents to a 2-2 draw in the first encounter at Selhurst Park on January 6.

Meanwhile, a strong Boro side were beaten 3-0 by Darlington yesterday in a behind-closed-doors friendly.

Striker Andy Campbell and midfielder Neil Maddison, both on the comeback trail after hernia operations, came through 90 minutes without any reaction in the game at Boro's Hurworth training base.

Pacey England Under-21 international Campbell has impressed head coach Terry Venables in training and built up his fitness, after over two months out, by operating as a wing-back.

Venables said: "He's been working hard with Maddison. They're over their injuries and just trying to catch up on the physical side of things. Campbell is very sharp and quick. I've been pleased with him.''

Long-term injury victims Alan Moore and Anthony Ormerod were also given run-outs in a Boro line-up which featured first-team regulars in striker Brian Deane and midfielder Phil Stamp.

Moore has returned to form in the reserves after battling serious calf problems which have kept him out of senior action for almost two years.

Fellow winger Ormerod is easing his way back following nearly 12 months on the sidelines with ankle trouble.

Boro assistant manager Viv Anderson said: "Ormerod and Moore didn't play 90 minutes, but the rest did.''

l Terry Venables has jumped to Boro's defence in the face of an alleged attack from West Ham striker Frederic Kanoute.

The Frenchman was reported to have said he would never play for Boro because the North-East is too cold and wet - and the houses are too small.

But Cockney Venables hit back, saying: "I'll take him around London and show him a few small houses that are wet on the inside!

"I'm settling into the North-East without any problems at all."

Boro are hoping to tempt Venables to stay beyond the end of the season by offering him a two-and-a-half year deal reported to be worth £5m.

Venables is enjoying his new job so much that he was behind his desk at Boro's Rockliffe Park headquarters on Sunday.

The former England boss said: "As soon as I started back in the game, I felt as though I'd never left it. It's been a pleasure to be here."

l Boro Under-19s won 1-0 at Barnsley yesterday