David Cuffley Defender Adam Drury said Norwich City's players were “gutted” by the late decision to postpone yesterday's League One match at Walsall.The long-serving full-back admitted he had expected the game to be in doubt after a bitterly cold night in the West Midlands, but after hearing no news of an inspection during the morning, the squad had not anticipated any problem when they arrived at the Banks's Stadium.

David Cuffley

Defender Adam Drury said Norwich City's players were “gutted” by the late decision to postpone yesterday's League One match at Walsall.

The long-serving full-back admitted he had expected the game to be in doubt after a bitterly cold night in the West Midlands, but after hearing no news of an inspection during the morning, the squad had not anticipated any problem when they arrived at the Banks's Stadium.

The game was called off at 2pm and some 2,000 City fans had to return home after a fruitless Bank Holiday journey.

“We're absolutely gutted the game's not on and we feel most for the fans, who have travelled all that way,” said Drury.

“I thought there might be a pitch inspection at some point. Normally you get it at 11 o'clock or whatever, so people who are travelling find out a bit earlier, but we didn't hear anything.

“It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. We knew how cold it had been overnight, but we came out and there were only one or two patches. But with the temperature dropping as we got towards kick-off, it was always going to be a struggle.

“Then it got closer and closer and it was called off in terms of the safety of the players. For the fans who have travelled all this way, it is massively disappointing, like it is for ourselves.

“It's a long way to come and the game's been called off at the last minute but I think they wanted to give it the best chance possible.

“We're gutted, but where we are in the league we don't want to take any chances with getting injuries, so I can see why the referee has called it off. But at the same time it's disappointing for everyone who has travelled - it's so late.”

With Walsall's Boxing Day game at Bristol Rovers postponed, the hosts had not played for nine days, but Drury did not feel City would have been at a disadvantage after facing Millwall little more than 48 hours earlier.

He said: “It can work both ways. We've come off the back of another good win and gone into the game with confidence high - and they've had a rest. You don't really know.

“The ref didn't want to take a chance with the game - so be it, we'll have to come back on a Tuesday night now, I presume.”