Source: Team_Talk
Rangers boss has no complaints
But he admits he was surprised at the late timing of the decision, which was confirmed an hour before the match was set to kick-off at McDiarmid Park.[LNB]Smith says the first he was aware of any problem with the playing surface was when he was alerted by assistant manager Ally McCoist when Rangers arrived at the stadium.[LNB]He said: "The area of the pitch which was affected apparently doesn't get the sunlight and it was just the 25-yard area around the penalty box that was the problem as the rest of the pitch was fine. We had absolutely no indication there was any problem."[LNB]Asked if he thought the pitch would have been okay had the match been given a 3pm kick-off, Smith added: "I'm not an expert but I'm hearing that the sun doesn't get to that area of the pitch in the winter.[LNB]"We came to play the game and the first I knew about it was when I was walking about the pitch and was then told there was a section of the surface which was dangerous. It is dangerous and the referee's decision is the correct one.[LNB]"It was Alistair who alerted me to it as he was walking about the section which was frozen so from our own point of view it's really disappointing that the game is off.[LNB]"We had stayed in a hotel in Dunkeld and it is a concern that we had no inclination that the game was going to be called off or even that it was in any kind of danger."[LNB]The Scottish Premier League has yet to confirm a rearranged date but Smith wants no distractions ahead of next Sunday's crunch Old Firm derby.[LNB]A winwould have allowed the Scottish champions to extend their lead at the summit to 13 points ahead of Celtic's clash with Dundee United later in the day.[LNB]Smith said: "There's not a fixture pile-up as such but it does give us some awkward decisions to make with regard to when to play this game.[LNB]"We were looking forward to a clear week going into the Old Firm game so I would still want that.[LNB]"The club will make a comment on the situation regarding the fans so I'm not going to comment on that."[LNB]Saints boss Derek McInnes admits he was stunned to discover the pitch was unplayable but, like Smith, accepted that the safety of the players was vital.[LNB]He said: "It's a total shock and I wasn't expecting this at all. I arrived at 9am this morning and it was first brought to my attention how hard the 18-yard box was.[LNB]"Even then the indications were that the pitch would be fine by the time the referee arrived. It had improved slightly but not anywhere near ready to play on.[LNB]"The undersoil heating has been on since Monday, it had to be on for the Hibs game. It's not as though we have been caught out as the heating has been kept on.[LNB]"The revenue is too important to this club not to do everything to get the game on but we've been unable to get it on.[LNB]"But obviously the temperatures have dropped quite dramatically overnight. That side of the stadium doesn't get any sunlight on it but the rest of the pitch is fine.[LNB]"There is a real frustration and disappointment but it is the right decision, of that there is no question."[LNB]The Perth Saints stunned third-placed Hibs with a superb 5-1 win midweek and had been relishing the clash with Rangers on the back of such a massive victory.[LNB]McInnes said: "It goes without saying we wanted to build on our win over Hibs during the week but we just need to get back into it.[LNB]"We had the chance of a big crowd here today, which we have worked hard to get. If the game was due to go ahead at 3pm then I believe it would have made it.[LNB]"Even the referee alluded to that. It's just unfortunate we don't have that time as a decision had to be made.[LNB]"I completely agree with Mike's decision as both myself and Walter are in agreement over his reasons for calling the game off.[LNB]"The surface which is affected is just too hard. The concern now for both clubs is we will need to squeeze the game in somewhere."[LNB]Referee Mike Tumilty added: "I was here an hour and a half before and I had to consider the players' safety. It's as simple as that. There is no way the pitch is playable."[LNB][LNB]
