CRAWLEY Town remain hopeful that today’s League One match at home to Carlisle United will go ahead.

Referee Rob Lewis will carry out a precautionary pitch inspection at 10am this morning.

But the club were sufficiently happy with the surface not to call off the game yesterday, bearing in mind the distance the opposition are travelling.

Crawley have had pitch covers in place since yesterday and they will remain on the surface until this morning.

Chief executive Michael Dunford said: “We have a team coming in at 7am to support the work of our ground staff. The covers will be removed and any areas of the pitch causing concern will be worked on ahead of the referee’s inspection at 10am.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we will play but we are also mindful of a mixed forecast for Saturday including warnings of severe gales and heavy rain showers.

“The club is doing all it can to get the game on despite the horrendous weather conditions we are experiencing at the moment.”