Weather hits midlands derby

Birmingham's FA Cup third-round local derby with Wolves has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

The West Midlands showdown was the first high-profile clash to fall foul of freezing overnight temperatures while non-league Histon's tie at home to Swansea and Cheltenham v Doncaster were also called off because of frozen pitches.

A statement from Birmingham said: "The covers on the St Andrews pitch coped with freezing cold conditions all week. But extreme temperatures of between minus six and minus eight degrees overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning led to the freeze and the game being called off by referee Howard Webb following an 11.45am pitch inspection, on the grounds of concerns over player safety."

No rearranged dates have been announced for the cup matches.

Several other matches have been called off including Carlisle v Walsall and Hereford v Leeds in Coca-Cola League One, plus Chester v Luton and Morecambe v Lincoln City in League Two.

Sheffield United's third-round clash at Leyton Orient was postponed less than two hours before kick-off, also due to a frozen pitch.

The League Two fixture between Aldershot and Notts County was off, joined by Exeter v Port Vale.

Three Blue Square Premier League matches also went: Salisbury v Rushden & Diamonds, Eastbourne Borough v Oxford and Ebbsfleet v Wrexham.

In Scotland, Ross County v St Johnstone in Division One, Brechin v Arbroath and Stranraer v Ayr in Division Two and four Division Three matches were off.