John Coleman: 'Newport County match should have been postponed'

Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman has questioned the match officials' decision to allow his side's rain-affected clash against Newport County to go ahead.

The Exiles left Crown Ground with a point after twice taking the lead, but heavy downpours both before and during the game left the pitch visibly waterlogged in places.

Coleman insists that the League Two contest was merely a "lottery" in the end due to the wet conditions, which he believes should have led to a postponement at the interval.

"It was difficult for both sides," he told BBC Sport. "The ref should be congratulated for getting the game finished but it became a lottery and I think it should have been called off at half time.

"I think if their manager would have wanted the game called off then it would have got called off at half time as I think the referee was leaning towards what I was saying. I can understand their point of view that they've travelled a long way and at half time they have a clean sheet and they don't want to come back here on a Tuesday.

"I can appreciate all of that but it wasn't conducive to be able to play proper football because you couldn't run with the ball and I think that as hampered us more than them."

Accrington now find themselves in fifth place in the standings, while opponents Newport are four points clear of the drop zone following their fourth-successive game without defeat.