Peterborough pitch was unplayable - Stevenage boss

Alex Revell felt the game should have been called off

Stevenage boss Alex Revell has hit out at the decision to play their EFL Trophy tie at Peterborough to a finish following a lengthy hold-up because part of the pitch was waterlogged due to heavy rainfall.

The game at London Road was stopped in the 67th minute, but referee Stephen Parkinson gave the go-ahead to resume after groundstaff had worked on the playing surface for half an hour.

Peterborough, who won the competition last season, were already 2-0 up when play was halted, with that proving the final scoreline.

"I think it was unplayable. You saw that when Dan Kemp tried to play it [the ball] to Harvey White and it stopped," Revell told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"They obviously wanted to finish the game - they were winning, but for me it was just (about) player safety."

The teams went back to the dressing rooms while groundstaff worked but were given a chance to warm up again before play continued.

"It just became a non-entity because we had so much of a wait," added Revell.

"I don't agree with it, I think it was too long. We were sitting in the changing room around heaters and for me it's unacceptable."

It was their second defeat to Peterborough in the space of four days, having been beaten 2-1 in League One on Saturday.

However, Stevenage could still reach the last 32 of the competition if they overcome Gillingham in their final group game and Posh - who are already through - do them a favour against Crystal Palace Under-21s.

A Peterborough player plants his foot into the turf at London Road

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson said the referee's decision to allow the game to resume had been "common sense".

He told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: "The EFL were on the radio, communicating with us, and they said take as long as you want.

"At one point it was touch and go. I feel, the far side [of the pitch] is always the worst side here, but the referee gave us time, made the correct decision and the game played out fine after that."

The Scot added: "I'm delighted with the team's performance, a clean sheet which is long overdue, that's the first of the season. I thought we controlled the game once we went 2-0 up."