Pompey opposition hopeful of beating rain '“ and frost

Accrington are hoping to beat the weather to ensure Pompey offer a first home match since November 14.
Accrington Stanley's Crown GroundAccrington Stanley's Crown Ground
Accrington Stanley's Crown Ground

However, it could be the freezing conditions rather than rain which again scupper their chances.

Flooding has caused Stanley’s last four Crown Ground fixtures to be washed out.

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The latest was last weekend’s visit of Notts County, leaving the hosts with three matches in hand on most of their League Two rivals – including Paul Cook’s Pompey.

Paul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe PeplerPaul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe Pepler
Paul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe Pepler

Record rainfalls have devastated the football schedules of clubs across Lancashire, with Morecambe and Blackburn also affected.

Yet while the remainder of the week is expected to be dry, worryingly cold spells and frost are anticipated ahead of Saturday’s Pompey visit.

Accrington press officer Dan Jewell said: ‘The rain in Lancashire has been off the scale, breaking all records.

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‘Last Saturday the surface was fine, there is not actually much wrong with the pitch.

Paul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe PeplerPaul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe Pepler
Paul Cook is hoping to return to his former club, Acrrington, on Saturday. Picture: Joe Pepler

‘Then two hours of rain on Saturday morning and it couldn’t drain anywhere.

‘The problem is there is nowhere for the water to go.

‘The ground around the stadium is saturated.

‘It is positioned at the bottom of a hill and when the housing estate at the top drains the water comes into the car park, so it’s like a lake.

‘The weather forecast for the first two days of this week was rain, which was correct, then the rest of the week is drier and colder.

‘That is more encouraging but Stanley lose a lot of games to the cold weather every season.

‘It is so wet that has yet to happen this term but it is forecast to freeze from Wednesday night onwards.’