Paul Peschisolido believes there was nothing wrong with the Valley Parade pitch “in any way, shape or form.”

Burton’s manager was livid that Saturday’s game did not take place – and angry that his team were not informed early enough by referee Neil Swarbrick.

Peschisolido stormed: “I’m not very happy. I don’t think there was anything wrong with the pitch.

“Nobody’s going to look after players’ safety more than me so I really don’t know where the referee’s coming from.

“Pitches are firm nowadays but I don’t see that it was frozen in any way, shape or form. We’re very disappointed.

“What makes it even more annoying is that we were only 20-30 minutes from the ground when we got the phone call (from the referee).”

Swarbrick had made up his mind after a midday inspection of the “spine” of the pitch. But he delayed making a final decision until Peschi-solido had taken a look.

The Preston official said: “It wouldn’t take a stud, a key wouldn’t go in and as far as I was concerned it was unsafe for the players.

“I took the decision off my own back. I did listen to what the managers had to say but, as the referee, I have the final word.”

David Dowse, City’s facilities manager, felt the ground-staff had done enough to make the pitch playable.

“We put a lot of work into getting the game on. In my view, I think it could have gone ahead.

“It had been covered with our frost sheets and the ground-staff have worked hard on it with blowers.

“We didn’t even bring (the referee) in for an early inspection because we didn’t foresee any problems. The temperature was also due to increase right up to three o’clock.

“There would have been variable bounce but the referee has the final say. We’re just very disappointed and frustrated.”

The rescheduled game is unlikely to take place until April. Burton have an horrendous fixture backlog and already face midweek matches every week right through February and March.

The only blank in that time is set aside in case their FA Cup fourth-round tie with Burnley goes to a replay.