Latest update on Bristol City kick-off time as Rotherham United work to prevent frozen pitch

Bristol City’s game with Rotherham United is all set to go ahead after the host club made all the efforts to ensure it would take place. The Robins play the Millers in a lunch-time kick-off to allow both sets of supporters enough time to get back home for France versus England.

Low temperatures and icy conditions have wreaked havoc on sporting fixtures this weekend, with several events cancelled. Seven matches across League One and League Two have been postponed.

No Championship games have been called off as of yet and the first test will be whether City’s match beats the cold. It kicks off at 12.30 and so a decision by the match official would need to be taken quickly.

The New York Stadium which was opened in 2012, does not have under-soil heating, which is usually a defence to avoid games being called off due to ice or snow. The Yorkshire club however did cover the entirety of the pitch with covers in the build-up to the match.

It looks like positive news however on the status of the game. In a tweet by the head groundsman Dave Fellowes tweeted: “Covers coming off, pitch in perfect playing condition.”

Several travelling supporters have already completed their journey to the stadium, with coaches en route. Just over 500 fans expected to be in the away end at the New York Stadium.

Despite the game being played at an earlier-time, the match is not available for streaming on iFollow or Robins TV in the United Kingdom. Rotherham chose not to take up that option, and have offered discounted tickets to home supporters.

The last time Bristol City won an away match in Rotherham was in November 1995, winning 3-2 at Millmoor with Darren Barnard, Gary Owers and David Seal on target. Shaun Goater scored a brace for the opposition before later joining City.