Plymouth & Cardiff games off amid Storm Darragh warnings

Plymouth said travel to Home Park was likely to be dangerous on Saturday

Saturday's Championship matches between Plymouth and Oxford and Cardiff City against Watford have been postponed with severe weather warnings in place for south west England and Wales.

Newport's clash with Carlisle in League Two has also been called off.

Storm Darragh will begin to affect the UK from Friday with amber wind warnings in place for Plymouth on Saturday.

The highest level of warning - red - has been forecast over parts of Devon posing a significant risk to people travelling to attend the game.

Parts of Wales are also under a red weather warning, prompting the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) to postpone all Saturday's scheduled domestic football and rugby matches.

Plymouth said they had been recommended by the Safety Advisory Group to postpone the match at Home Park.

A club statement said the decision had been made early "to avoid lengthy travel to Plymouth in difficult weather conditions and also in the best interests of supporter safety, as we would never put the safety of fans, staff or players at risk".

"There is a real danger of flying debris and potential falling trees which could cause danger to life, with damage to buildings and homes also a real possibility," the statement continued.

"Roads, bridges and railway lines could also close, and the stadium and surrounding area may be hit by power cuts."

Argyle said tickets already bought for the game will be valid for the rescheduled fixture.

The game had a key bearing on the bottom half of the division - Argyle are one place and two points above the relegation places while Oxford are a point and four places above them.

Cardiff had initially planned an inspection on Saturday but said the decision to call off their game followed "new advice received from the Met Office, and the recommendations of Cardiff Council and South Wales Police".

Scheduled horse racing meetings at Sandown Park, Aintree, Chepstow and Wetherby are also subject to precautionary inspections on Saturday morning.

Saturday's postponed matches

Championship

Cardiff City v Watford

Plymouth Argyle v Oxford United

League Two

Newport County v Carlisle United