Boro's long trip to Ipswich abandoned (From The Northern Echo)

Boro's long trip to Ipswich abandoned

3:47pm Saturday 11th February 2012 in Middlesbrough FC News By Paul Fraser, Chief Football Writer

MIDDLESBROUGH'S Championship game at Ipswich Town was abandoned after 37 minutes this afternoon due to the freezing conditions.

The four-and-a-half hour drive to Portman Road for the Boro staff and fans was worth nothing when referee Dean Whitestone took the players off with the score goalless.

Mr Whitestone, who had previously carried out two pitch inspections at 11.15am and 2pm, had indicated before the game that he would keep an eye on the situation.

And in freezing temperatures - there was overnight low of minus 13 in Suffolk - with little sunlight getting to the pitch, he was asked to reconsider his decision at many points during the first half.

The long strip of grass in front of the main stand was of particular concern, with the linesman on that side actually running it inside the line.

Now Middlesbrough must head back to Teesside and wait to learn the rearranged date.

And Boro boss Mowbray said: “It probably shouldn't have started, I was here at 11am and the pitch was under a dome, it seemed pretty playable but you couldn't see the sides of the pitch. "At 1.45pm we were able to walk along the touchline and I thought it was difficult to play the game. He felt pretty confident the game could be played. "What happened as the day unfolded was that the sun went down, the temperature got colder, crisper and I think it was dangerous. The linesman was running five yards on the pitch because it was becoming more difficult. It was, in the end, probably the right decision to call it off when he did."