Crawley's FA Cup tie against Bristol Rovers postponed

File photo dated 11/05/13 of the Budweiser sponsored FA Cup trophy as it was announced that the BBC and BT Sport are to share the rights to broadcast the FA Cup under a new four-year deal which kicks off next year. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Wednesday July 17, 2013. The BBC's FA Cup programming will be led by Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker and the corporation said coverage will be available on TV and there will also be live streaming online and on mobile devices. The competition will be returning to the BBC for the first time since 2008. See PA story MEDIA FACup. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

Match referee Andy Davies inspected the pitch at The Checkartade.com Stadium at lunchtime and found it waterlogged. With more heavy rain forecast the decision was made early to postpone the fixture to prevent Bristol Rovers and their fans making an unnecessary journey.

Chief Executive Michael Dunford said: “We had another deluge last night and parts of the pitch, particularly on the West Stand side, are under water. Taking into account the forecast for more rain tomorrow we have made an early decision to call the game off.

“The forecast for the early part of next week is not encouraging which is why we have delayed re-staging the game until Wednesday to give us the best chance of playing it then.”

The winners are away to Birmingham City in the third round on a date to be confirmed.

Reds, Rovers and Birmingham will all be in Sunday’s fourth round draw and are ball no. 28 in the draw, which takes place at 2pm and is live on ITV 1.