NEWPORT County AFC have been denied the chance to build a gap to the League Two relegation zone after their home game against Morecambe was postponed.

The 18th Exiles were aiming to build a nine-point advantage over the one-from-bottom Shrimps at Rodney Parade.

However, the fixture failed a midday pitch inspection - much to the disappointment of the clubs.

"The referee inspected the pitch at 10am this morning but it was agreed to hold a further inspection at 12pm to give the pitch further time to recover from the frost," read a County statement.

"Unfortunately, despite the efforts of the groundstaff to clear the remaining snow covering, plus the natural thawing of the pitch, the referee still felt that certain sections were still too hard.

"It was not a view shared by club officials who felt the pitch was playable.

"To clarify, the stadium was unable to put covers down after the game against AFC Wimbledon on Thursday night.

"By the time the game had finished, the severe drop in temperature during the game meant heavy frost was already in the ground and the pitch was frozen.

"By putting covers on it would have trapped the frost in the ground rather than allow the forecasted rise in temperature and impending rain to thaw the pitch naturally.

"The club would like to apologise to supporters for the late postponement, but we did everything possible to play the fixture."

The late decision will frustrate fans - especially those from Morecambe who were making the trip - but it will mean that a vital fixture is not played in what would have been challenging conditions.

The postponement means that Nelson Jardim’s men will have a long period of inactivity until they next play at promotion-chasing Port Vale on January 18.

Next weekend’s away game at Accrington has been postponed because their hosts, who are one point behind them, are in the third round of the FA Cup when they have a money-spinning tie with Premier League leaders Liverpool.

County will hope for favourable results when Tranmere travel to leaders Walsall, Swindon entertain Crewe and bottom club Carlisle hunt three much-needed points against Milton Keynes Dons.

(Image: EFL)

Jardim is chasing a “comfortable” season so that he can press on with changes in his challenge of changing the club’s playing style.

They are some way off that but are currently in a position of having points on the board AND games in hand over their rivals in the bottom half of the table.

However, three strugglers closed the gap on Saturday afternoon with Harrogate winning 2-0 at Barrow, Accrington upsetting Colchester by the same score in Essex and Tranmere edging the key clash with Carlisle.

Former County defender Cameron Norman scored the only goal of the game at Prenton Park to heap the pressure on Mike Williamson, who on Saturday faces the MK side that he left for the job at Brunton Park.