It's snow joke as Premiership match abandoned

Last updated : 09 April 2006 By Steve Jones
This was not a Tuesday night in the depth's of winter. A Spring afternoon in April and a Premiership match is abandoned.

Fulham were a goal up when Mike Riley called off the game on safety grounds.

"The conditions were exceptional for this time of year," said Riley.

"There was water falling on the pitch and it was not going anywhere. There was a forecast for more of it in the afternoon.

"The players were playing the ball and it was stopping. There was a collision when the players slipped and it was not going to get any better so the likelihood was that someone would get injured. So they were not safe conditions to play in.

"Potentially, I could have called it off beforehand. You try and be conscious of the spectators who are here, the Fulham fans have travelled a long way, and you want to get a game on if you can. When you get out there, you think the players running around might keep the surface water away and you hope for improvement.

"It just didn't come unfortunately."

Fulham will have to face the trip North again while for Sunderland their relegation has been delayed.