Nottingham Forest were due to play Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Friday night, but the match was postponed four hours before kick-off.
Forest statement
Nottingham Forest say they tried their “very best” to get the postponed clash with Bournemouth played.
The match at the Vitality Stadium was officially called off four hours before it was due to kick-off at 7.45pm on the south coast, in the wake of havoc wreaked by Storm Eustice.
Many Reds fans, however, had already started to make the long trip down to the ground from Nottingham, amid confusion over whether it would actually be played or not.
A statement from the club said: “Nottingham Forest have received confirmation from AFC Bournemouth that [Friday night's] match has regrettably been postponed.
Bournemouth explanation
Bournemouth say Friday night's clash with Nottingham Forest has been postponed due to damage caused to the Vitality Stadium in the wake of Storm Eunice.
Steve Cooper’s Reds were due to take on their fellow promotion-hopefuls on Friday evening, but the game was called off little more than four hours before the scheduled 7.45pm kick-off.
Many Forest fans were either already on the south coast at that point or had started to make the long journey down from Nottingham.
Bournemouth said in a statement: “Friday’s SkyBet Championship match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest has been postponed for safety reasons following damage to Vitality Stadium caused by Storm Eunice.
Fans' fury
Nottingham Forest fans have been left furious at the late decision to postpone the Reds’ clash with Bournemouth.
The crunch match between the two Championship promotion-hopefuls was due to take place at the Vitality Stadium on Friday evening.
However, it was called off little more than four hours before the scheduled 7.45pm kick-off, when many Forest supporters were either already on the south coast or on their way down.
Bournemouth said in a statement: “Friday’s SkyBet Championship match between AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest has been postponed for safety reasons following damage to Vitality Stadium caused by Storm Eunice.
EFL statement
The English Football League have issued a fresh statement on Nottingham Forest’s postponed clash with Bournemouth after receiving the relevant safety paperwork.
The Reds were due to take on the Cherries at the Vitality Stadium this evening in a big Championship match, but the game was called off at about 4pm.
Bournemouth cited damage to the ground caused by Storm Eustice, saying it could “pose a significant risk to supporters’ safety”.
In a new statement, an EFL spokesperson said: “With the EFL now in receipt of the prohibition notice issued by the local Safety Advisory Group (SAG) to AFC Bournemouth, it is clear that the extent of the structural damage to the stadium, alongside the challenging weather, means that repair work to make it safe for spectators could not be carried out today.
