Why Portsmouth v Ipswich Town has been postponed for a second time | OneFootball

Portsmouth have confirmed that their game against Ipswich Town has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Portsmouth have confirmed that tonight’s game against Ipswich Town has been postponed for a second time due to a waterlogged pitch at Fratton Park.

The two clubs were set to meet on the south coast on January 4, but a frozen pitch meant the game was postponed just hours before kick-off.

Obviously, finding a free slot isn’t always easy, but the two clubs had agreed that the game would go ahead tonight, in what was going to be a huge game for both Pompey and the Tractor Boys.

Portsmouth vs Ipswich postponed for a second time due to waterlogged pitch

Yet, there has been heavy rain in Hampshire overnight, and Portsmouth announced on social media that the game has been postponed once again due to a waterlogged pitch, with more rain forecast up until kick-off as well.

This comes just days after Pompey had beaten West Brom 3-0 on their own patch, but the rain in the area has picked up a lot over the past 24 hours, and it has clearly impacted the playing surface.

So, this will no doubt be hugely frustrating for both sets of supporters, players and the two managers, especially given how big the game is.

Portsmouth are battling relegation, with John Mousinho’s side currently 20th in the table, and they already have at least one game in hand on most of their rivals.

Meanwhile, Ipswich are looking to bounce back following a 1-1 draw with Preston last time out. That has left them seven points behind Coventry and Middlesbrough in the race for automatic promotion, with the trip to Pompey their game in hand on the duo.

Portsmouth vs Ipswich clash could be a huge fixture when it’s rearranged later this season

Firstly, it should be said that it’s good that this decision has been made early, as Ipswich fans won’t have started what would be a very long journey to the south coast.

It’s infuriating for supporters when they have already made the trip and the game is postponed when you get to the ground, so Portsmouth deserve credit for making an early decision, even if some will be annoyed as they are likely to have taken time off work and potentially paid to stay over, but these things happen.

It’s a shame for both clubs that the game won’t be played tonight, as they would’ve both wanted to play for different reasons.

From Pompey’s perspective, they will have wanted to build on the massive 3-0 win over Albion last time out, and if they did pick up another three points, they could have created a decent gap to the bottom three.

As for Ipswich, the past two performances and results have been underwhelming, and with Coventry and Boro not in action, this was an opportunity to get to within four points of their promotion rivals.

Now, the clubs will have to pick a third date, and it will seemingly be much later in the campaign, when it may be a fixture that has huge implications at the top and bottom of the Championship.