Watford have confirmed that their FA Cup replay with Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday evening has been postponed after the Merseysider's pitch was left waterlogged following heavy rainfall.
The Hornets threw away a three-goal lead in the first game and were forced to settle for a replay at Tranmere's Prenton Park.
❌ Tonight's @EmiratesFACup game against @WatfordFC has been postponed.
— Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) January 14, 2020
A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.#TRFC #SWA
However, the club took to their official website to reveal that the ground has been hit hard by rain as a result of Storm Brendan, which has swept its way across the United Kingdom in recent days.
Watford have been in close contact with both Tranmere and the FA over the past few days to try to figure out how to proceed with the game, but it was ultimately decided that it was simply not possible at this moment in time.
A pitch inspection on Tuesday confirmed that Prenton Park is in no condition to host a football match, so the decision was taken to postpone the replay.
As of yet, there has been no announcement about the date for the rearranged fixture, with Watford promising to provide that information as soon as it becomes available.
Tranmere also added on their website that they had tried everything to make the fixture possible, including deploying a specialist cover to try and shield the pitch and encourage the grass to dry, but three days of heavy rain has proven to be too much to contend with.
The first game was perhaps the most exciting of the third round. Goals from Tom Dele-Bashiru and Nathaniel Chalobah gave Watford an early lead, and they looked to have one foot in the next round when Roberto Pereyra added a third before half time.
However, Tranmere were not prepared to lie down. The League One side came out after the interval and produced one of the biggest shocks of the competition so far as goals from Connor Jennings, Manny Monthe and a late Paul Mullin penalty saw the game finish tied at 3-3.
The winner of the replay will earn themselves a fourth-round clash with either Manchester United or Wolverhampton Wanderers, who will meet in their own replay on Wednesday night.
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Source : 90min