Prem games may beat big freeze

The Black Cats' clash with the Trotters appears to be in doubt with the city's Safety Advisory Group set to hold a second meeting to discuss conditions in the area around the Stadium of Light. The group's chairman Ken Scott told the club website: "It is too soon at this point to make a definitive decision regarding the status of the match. "However, another meeting will take place today after which we will make a further announcement. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the weather conditions and associated safety issues." Wigan have assured their fans that Saturday's meeting with Aston Villa will definitely go ahead. A statement on their website said: "After an inspection of the stadium and the surrounding areas stadium officials have deemed the conditions safe for those attending." The games at Arsenal, Birmingham, Burnley, Fulham and Hull are all set to go ahead provided the safety of spectators attending the fixtures can be guaranteed. The Championship fixtures at Preston, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Watford were called off on Thursday, but Cardiff are confident their game against Blackpool will go ahead after the first-team squad trained at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday. West Brom are confident that Friday night's clash with Nottingham Forest will go ahead but the club will make a further announcement later on. A statement on the club website said: "The Hawthorns was subjected to further sub-zero temperatures overnight but the under-soil heating should make the pitch playable. "The club are once again hiring snow ploughs, gritters and extra manpower to clear the snow and ice from the stadium and all areas they are responsible for." Sunday's fixtures, which see Liverpool host Tottenham and Stoke at West Ham, are currently scheduled to go ahead. League One and League Two have been decimated by the conditions with only the games at Leeds and Norwich set to go ahead in League One, while Northampton have asked fans to help clear the pitch at Sixfields so their League Two game with Chesterfield can go ahead. The big freeze has wreaked havoc with the fourth round of the Scottish Cup. The Morton v Celtic and Kilmarnock v Falkirk ties were called off on Wednesday and eight more followed on Thursday, meaning 10 of the 16 matches have been called off.