Hull & Sheff Utd fixtures among 17 EFL games off

Hull City's game against Watford was postponed 20 minutes before kick-off to become the third of Sunday's Championship fixtures to be called off because of freezing conditions.

The 12:00 GMT kick-off between Sheffield United and Oxford United and Portsmouth's game against Ipswich at 15:00 GMT, as well as a number of other English Football League matches across League One and League Two, had been postponed earlier in the day because of frozen pitches.

While the playing surface at Hull's MKM Stadium was said to be playable, the match was postponed because sections of ground surrounding the pitch were "deemed unsafe" by match officials.

"Although this has been constantly worked on, conditions have not improved and with temperatures continuing to fall, player safety cannot be guaranteed," Hull City said in a statement on its website., external

Watford initially reacted on social media by saying they were "really disappointed" the game was called off so close to kick-off, but more than four hours later the club hardened its stance with another post published on X, external which said the Hornets "did not agree to the postponement".

"We were ready and willing to play after the pitch was passed fit by the referee," the club said. "We remain disappointed by the decision to postpone, and by how the decision was reached."

Ten fixtures were also called off in League Two and four more fell to the freezing weather in League One.

In League One, Doncaster's meeting with Luton, Barnsley's trip to Port Vale, Rotherham v Mansfield and Stevenage against Leyton Orient were all called off on Sunday.

In addition to five of Sunday's League Two fixtures which had already been postponed on Saturday, Barnet v Crewe, Barrow v Bristol Rovers, Cambridge v Grimsby, Colchester v Accrington and Newport v Tranmere all failed pitch inspections.

Games were scheduled to start at 15:00 GMT unless stated

Championship

Sheffield United v Oxford (12:00)

Hull City v Watford

Portsmouth v Ipswich

League One

Doncaster v Luton

Port Vale v Barnsley

Rotherham v Mansfield

Stevenage v Leyton Orient

League Two

Barnet v Crewe

Barrow v Bristol Rovers

Bromley v Oldham

Cambridge v Grimsby

Colchester v Accrington

Harrogate v Swindon

Newport v Tranmere

Notts County v Gillingham

Salford v Shrewsbury

Walsall v Fleetwood