Source: Daily_Mail
Blackpool's power cuts a third match as Boxing Day clash with Liverpool is postponed
Blackpool lost their third home game in a month to the cold weather on Boxing Day after groundstaff discovered that diesel used to power their pitch heating system had frozen in the North West's sub-zero temperatures.[LNB]On a day when Everton had their home game against Birmingham postponed because of frozen water pipes, Blackpool's home Barclays Premier League meeting with Liverpool was ruined by an even more freakish turn of events.[LNB]Though the Bloomfield Road pitch does not have the traditional undersoil heating used by most of the top-flight clubs, they do have an alternative system that meets Premier League requirements and which they had hoped would ensure the game would go ahead.[LNB] This is snow joke: Blackpool's Bloomfield Road on Boxing Day[LNB]But it is understood this could not be powered because of the frozen fuel and the game went the way of recent postponements against Manchester United and Tottenham.[LNB]Sources at the Premier League told Sportsmail Blackpool would not face sanctions and it is also understood Liverpool recognised the newly promoted club had done all they could to get the game played.[LNB]The League would perhaps be within their rights to ask Blackpool why their system does not seem to be working but with all three games now rescheduled without too much inconvenience it was decided not to pursue the matter.[LNB]Also, the Premier League rules ask clubs to have a system in place that can deal with temperatures as low as -6 degrees. It has been colder than that in Blackpool recently. [LNB]The Liverpool game will be played on January 12, while Ian Holloway's side will face United on January 25 and Tottenham will come to Bloomfield Road on February 22.[LNB]With Blackpool having played four of their first five games of the Premier League season away after struggling to get their ground ready for the start, the manager and his players now have an unprecedented number of home games in the second half ofthe campaign. In fact, 12 of their last 20 matches will be at home.[LNB] Further frustration: Blackpool's clash with Liverpool was called off[LNB]This will be something that will no doubt please Holloway as he looks to build on an impressive opening half of the season and keep Blackpool up against the odds. What is likely to help them is that five of their final seven games are at Bloomfield Road.[LNB]As for Liverpool, they now face a busy January period but manager Roy Hodgson was said to be relaxed about the situation. The Merseyside club - who face Wolves at home on Wednesday - expect to have a fully fit squad for the start of the new year, with the exception of defender Jamie Carragher.[LNB]Everton's game at home to Birmingham was also called off because frozen pipes at Goodison Park meant there was no running water in parts of the ground and burst pipes were deemed a safety risk.[LNB]Derby County's game at home to Doncaster Rovers was postponed two hours before kick-off because of repeated failures in the Pride Park electrical system.[LNB]Derby manager Nigel Clough admitted: 'I'm very disappointed it's off but I imagine Doncaster will be delighted. They had several players injured or ill and were even suggesting they might have to play a striker, Billy Sharp, at right back.'[LNB] Freezing festive weather sees two Premier League fixtures called off Blackpool boss Ian Holloway eyes Watford's Don Cowie as potential replacement for Charlie AdamBLACKPOOL FC
