Colchester United's home match against Rotherham United has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

Referee Brendan Malone, who was due to take charge of the League One clash, inspected the Weston Homes Community Stadium pitch at 8.30am this morning and decided that the surface was not playable.

Colchester head groundsman David Blacknall and the U's did everything they could to try ensure the game went ahead and the club covered the pitch with waterproof sheets on Thursday.

However, the amount of rain in the area over recent weeks has made the pitch unplayable today.

It is the second successive home fixture that the U's have had called off and Joe Dunne's side have not played since beating Carlisle United 4-2, three weeks ago.

Colchester's next league game is at Port Vale on Tuesday night.

They are due to play again next Friday night, after their trip to play Swindon Town was brought forward 24 hours owing to the Robins' Johnstone's Paint Trophy area final second leg against Peterborough United being played the following Monday (February 17).

For all of the latest Colchester United news, see the Daily Gazette.