• Premier League

Newcastle given green light

ESPN staff
November 28, 2010
St James' Park was covered in snow on Sunday morning © Getty Images
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Chelsea's clash with Newcastle United will go ahead as planned despite severe weather in the north east of England appearing to put the contest in jeopardy on Sunday morning, with match referee Andre Marriner giving his approval for the game to continue.

Heavy snowfall overnight left the St James' Park pitch blanketed, while access to the stadium and areas inside the ground were covered in ice, leading to fears about the potential safety of supporters.

But a morning of hardwork from the groundsmen and Newcastle pitchside staff ensured that Marriner was happy with the state of the pitch and local police were happy with the approaches to the stadium, so the match will kick-off as expected at 1330 GMT.

Chelsea go into the game on the back of three league defeats in four games and will be aiming to arrest that alarming slide against a Newcastle side who beat them 4-3 at Stamford Bridge in the Carling Cup earlier this season.

Sunday's Scottish Premier League games were not so fortunate as to avoid postponement, as the cold snap forced Dundee United v Rangers, due to be shown live on ESPN UK , and Motherwell v Hearts, to be called off.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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