TOWN and Bristol Rovers were united today in their frustration about Saturday's postponement.

Peter Jackson was furious Town's supporters had made a large part of the 200-mile trip by the time referee Andrè Marriner arrived to call off the game (11.20am) at the waterlogged Memorial Ground.

No new date has been fixed, but Rovers were today asking the Football League to reconsider their ruling on postponements as it was clear from early morning there was no chance of play.

Around an inch-and-a-half of rain, swept in by gale force winds, lashed Bristol on Friday night, leaving the pitch soddened.

Regulations are, however, that on the day of the game, only the match referee can postpone a fixture - not a local official.

Jackson fumed: "The game could have been called off at 7am because it was obviously unplayable.

"If both clubs agree, I don't see any problem, but instead the referee had to trail down from Birmingham to tell us the obvious while our fans were on the road.

"Everyone did their best to alert supporters, but it could have been avoided.

"When we arrived at 10.15 the pitch was bad. There was standing water all over the place, and particularly in one half, and it was a massive disappointment."

Rovers' stadium manager Ian Holtby said: "We are bitterly disappointed and fans of both clubs are disappointed.

"But we will be contacting the Football League and asking them to reconsider the way these situations are handled in future.

"I rang the referee on his mobile phone and he called me back at about 10am. I told him the situation and he said he would drive down from his home in Birmingham before making the decision. It was 11.20 by the time he confirmed the game was off.

"I could have asked a local referee long before then and he would have reached the same conclusion."

Town travelled on Friday, but supporters' coaches left early on Saturday to make the trip and many fans had got as far as Strensham Services on the M5 by the time they heard the news.