Stuart McCall voiced his frustration at seeing City's Yorkshire derby with Rotherham frozen off.

Referee Danny McDermid pulled the plug less than three hours before the scheduled kick-off after carrying out two inspections of the Valley Parade pitch.

He was happy with the majority of the surface but the area around the six-yard box at the away end of the ground was too solid after frost got in under the covers.

It was only City's second postponement in nearly four years - the last call-off was against Blackpool on March 4, 2006.

McCall admitted: "We're all very disappointed because we want to be playing regularly and don't want to get too far adrift from the middle of the league.

"It was a game we were desperate to put on. I know we'd have been without Paul Heckingbottom and Eddie Johnson but who's to say we won't have any more injuries than that when we do eventually play them."

The Bantams boss was at the ground when London-based McDermid made his ruling and felt the official had got it right.

"If you saw it from the stand, 95 per cent of the pitch looks great. It's just down the centre and in the goalmouth by the TL Dallas Stand where there's a problem.

"Unfortunately, you can't afford to take the risk. It just needs a forward to go for the ball and land awkwardly or a keeper to bang his head and you could have someone picking up a serious injury.

"Maybe a few years ago they might have played the game regardless but it was just too dangerous."

McCall rearranged his day in time to take in Bury's home game with Hereford, who visit Valley Parade on December 29.

And assistant Wayne Jacobs made sure the players did not waste their afternoon by taking them for a training session at Hanson School.

McCall added: "We'd had to train indoors on Friday so it was good that the lads could do some work outside again.

"Everyone is frustrated because you prepare all week for the game and then it gets called off just a couple of hours before kick-off. So at least they were able to do something.

"But now we've got a big game to focus on at Peterborough next weekend. Unfortunately our game was postponed too late for me to make it down in time to see them play MK Dons but we all know what a tough one it's going to be because they are a very good side."

No new date has yet been fixed with Rotherham, although it is expected to take place some time during February.

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