Coventry clash called off

Wednesday's match with Coventry City lasted just 28 minutes before Referee Graham Laws abandoned the match because of a waterlogged pitch. Heavy rain leading up kick off had caused large puddles to form on the Hillsborough pitch but after his pre-match pitch inspection Laws decided the game could be allowed to start.

However the bad weather continued to the point that the ball could not move freely and in the view of player safety the decision was made to call the match off. Both sets of managers later agreed that the correct decision had been made.

Wednesday ground staff defended the pitch, which was re-laid after the horrendous Sheffield floods during the summer, after criticism that no other games in the region were called off on the day.

Referee Graham Laws verdict: "As well as the ball not moving freely, which is of immediate concern to the referee, the surface was starting actually moving under your feet." "I wasn't happy with them even running around on it. With all those factors in mind, we've made a decision which we don't take lightly." "I appreciate people pay a lot of money to go and watch a game of football. But entertainment-wise, it's got to be right for them and it's also got to be fair." "I thought it was reaching the point when it was going to turn quite farcical, to be honest."

Brian Laws verdict: "Graham Laws made the decision and we've got to support that. Every time you make a decision, it's got to be for the safety of football players." "Today, you've seen even the passing wasn't going to reach. It could cost you an injury and I don't think that's fair." "We're here to put on something the supporters are proud of and all we would've got today is route one football and see who makes the least mistakes." "If you want to go and watch a comedy house, I suppose this would have been the place to be if we continued."

Ian Dowie (Coventry City manager) verdict: "It became very, very heavy. It wasn't a game of football." "I've never seen Hillsborough as wet as this. I'm disappointed for everyone who turned up but it's one of those things."