Ipswich, Middlesbrough managers agree with abandonment

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor | 11 February 2012

Both Paul Jewell and Tony Mowbray agree with referee Dean Whitestone's decision to abandon Ipswich and Middlesbrough's fixture after 37 minutes of play.

Both Paul Jewell and Tony Mowbray have revealed they were happy for referee Dean Whitestone to abandon this afternoon's Championship fixture between Ipswich and Middlesbrough.

Whitestone made the decision after 37 minutes of play despite the playing surface passing a 2pm pitch inspection.

"It was probably the right decision. The bigger question would be whether it was right to start it. I had my concerns at two o'clock," said Boro boss Mowbray.

Both managers referred to how the pitch was in good condition this morning under a hot air bubble but the Portman Road surface deteriorated once the cover was removed at 1.30pm.

Jewell spoke of the players safety, alluding especially to an injury sustained by Tractor Boys centre-half Ibrahima Sonko.

"Sonko's cracked a rib there. If the pitch hadn't been in that condition that probably wouldn't have happened," Jewell said.

He added: "It was a right anti-climax and I feel really sorry for the supporters both of Ipswich and Middlesbrough, who had come an awful long way, but one of our players has been injured and I think that's down to the conditions and I didn't need any more of that."

Ipswich announced that supporters who attended the game would receive a 50% discount on ticket prices for the re-arranged game, which will be organised next week.