Town have announced that there will be a stadium and pitch inspection at 9am tomorrow before a decision is made on whether the game against Barnsley goes ahead. The match is in doubt due to safety concerns with snow having fallen overnight and with more expected this evening.

A statement on the club site reads: "Referee Nigel Miller will be taking a look at the Portman Road surface and warm-up areas as early as possible once the pitch covers have been removed.

"The stadium and access areas will also be checked for safety purposes before a decision is made on whether the game can go ahead.

"Much will depend on how much snow falls overnight but the club have a 10-strong emergency staff working through the night to help get the game on.

"Club office staff worked for three hours this morning to help the groundstaff shift the overnight snow, which has been stacked in the front of the Cobbold and Co-op stands.

"Supporters in the lower tier of the Cobbold Stand will be upgraded to the upper tier should the game go ahead. They should access through their normal turnstiles and will be issued with new tickets at that point.

"Only the first few rows at the front will be affected in the lower Co-op Stand. Supporters in this area should check with stewards as they enter the Stand and those sitting in the snow-covered seats will be allocated new seats in the upper tier."

A full match preview can be found here.

Photo: Action Images

Wickets added 17:50 - Jan 18 Souper Jim you up for a 100 round trip for KFC!!!!!!!!
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tractorboy11uk added 17:54 - Jan 18 Not a cat in hells chance of the game finishing even if it starts. As soon as the tent comes off the warm air will hit the sub zero ambient air and the pitch will start to freeze in minutes. Then it's just a matter of time before its abandoned. That's assuming the stadium passes the safety check first of course !
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blueblood66 added 17:57 - Jan 18 yes, as it did last year at the Boro game
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suffolkpunch1978 added 18:17 - Jan 18 The tempreture will not be as low as it was for the boro game, the pitch is not the concern, the area around the ground etc If they want i will come down with a shovel and clear it myself
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PSGBlue added 18:18 - Jan 18 Not too sure there will be much more snow overnight, just a couple of cm's. Depends when covers come off as max temp expected to be minus 1 C. Although at minus 1 C the ground may not freeze quickly, unlike the Boro game when the temp was several degrees below zero. With little overnight snow I would expect pitch to be playable, it will depend on the surrounding area. But even a few cm's will probably persuade the powers who be to postpone the game. I also hope that a 9am inspection means a decision is made at 9am as I am travelling from Sleaford where it is belting it down at the moment. Don't want to get to Cambridge only to find the match being called off at 11am!

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SitfcB added 18:25 - Jan 18 A 10 strong team? Haha. Why don't they appeal for fans to go down in the morning to help clear the snow from paths etc?
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pinablue added 18:31 - Jan 18 get me a shovel I'll help :)
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Guthrum added 18:33 - Jan 18 Sitters - that'll be down to health & safety plus employee/public liability insurance. Hurt yourself helping to clear the stadium and the club's insurers probably won't cover your compensation claim.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 18:40 - Jan 18 Wasn't there a game on the football league show a year/2 years ago when loads of fans came on the pitch with spades and cleared the snow?
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Cheshire_Blue added 18:59 - Jan 18 Once again no thought for the long distance supporters who either will not be able to get to Ipswich or will arrive in time for a last minute cancellation or abandonment after 30 mins. Why be so anxious to get the game on in poor conditions when it can be played in much better weather later in the season?
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ipswichtillidie added 19:08 - Jan 18 Some people take leave from work months in advance to plan around these fixtures so every effort should be made to play the match and keep to the schedual. An early decisive descision at 9am thou would be much appreciated.
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Tufty added 19:33 - Jan 18 Cant please everyone of course i want to see a game tomorrow but at the same time a 360 mile round trip for 20 or less mins is not acceptable. club has a responsibility to get it right. last year got it wrong on every level
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TimmyH added 19:36 - Jan 18 Health and safety mad! is probably the main concern about getting into the stadium safely, can't believe the pitch would be any worse than when we played Coventry when the Dark Lord was in charge. Temp will be around 1c tomorrow afternoon so it won't freeze as soon as the cover comes off, anyway is there a lot of snow up there, there's none here in Essex (Maldon).
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TimmyH added 19:41 - Jan 18 By the way very little if any snow forecast for over night and with general cloud cover temps won't be that low either so start salting in the morning.
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big_gaz67 added 19:45 - Jan 18 Is being moved from a pitchside seat of your choice to a seat in the Cobbold upper where the persob in front has to sit on your lap really an upgrade? Should be called off now.
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blues1 added 22:38 - Jan 18 while imnot saying calling it off because of conditions around the area of the stadium would necessarily be wrong, how many premier league games does anyone think will be called off for that reason. my guess is none. so, if the pitch is playable then i believe the game should go ahead regardless. know that could mean some people missing the game and that is unfortunate and i sympathise with those fans(of both clubs). just dont think that the health safety fanatics should dictate to people whether a game should go ahead or not. it will be my choice whether to risk going to the game or not, so therefore if i was,god forbid to slip & hurt myself then its my fault, no-one elses. and before ne1 says yes, i know how people are in this world right now and would want to sue the relevant authorities and that why, but seems strange that our police and councils would urge this action while those of premier league clubs dont. or maybe those clubs have the guts to ignore the do gooders. having said all that if they do postpone the match then so be it.

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Lennyboy added 22:56 - Jan 18 I would have no problem in helping clear snow ice or a train full of budgie fans, as long as I can see the Blues turn someone over; which I hope will happen tomorrow. Not only that, I agree with ipswichtilidie; some of us can only get to a few dates every year due to shift work and the like. If's its cancelled, their is no guarantee that the rematch will fall on a date that I can attend. COYB!!!!

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gypo added 01:32 - Jan 19 Well if they call game off because the streets around Portman road are unsafe then will they close the town centre off for shoppers !!
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gypo added 01:33 - Jan 19 Because if they do I know where I'll be tomorrow afternoon with the missus :-(
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tractorboy1961 added 06:27 - Jan 19 Surely if the pitch is playable and there is no chance of it deteriorating like the Boro game last season then it has to take place. Supporters have to make their own decisions if they travel to the match or not. I suspect it will happen but a crowd of less that 13000 will be there.
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townietilidie added 08:35 - Jan 19 With very little snowfall over night in Ipswich I see no reason why the game should be called off . 3 points today ... COYB !!!
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