Carlisle United are facing yet more fixture congestion after tonight's game at Newport was called off.

A waterlogged pitch led to the postponement of the League Two game at Rodney Parade.

It followed an early-afternoon inspection by ref Lee Swabey at a time Chris Beech's squad were well on their way to south Wales.

It dashed Carlisle's hopes of returning to action after a wait of more than three weeks, due to other postponements and a Covid-19 outbreak.

United must now rearrange the trip to Newport at a time their next seven weeks already see Beech's side in midweek action.

Their next free Tuesday does not fall until March 23 in an increasingly hectic calendar.

The Blues, who have not played since January 2's 2-0 win at Walsall, will now hope to resume their promotion push at Brunton Park this Saturday against Exeter.

In a statement about today's postponement, Newport said: "The Rodney Parade groundstaff had deployed frost covers following the significant snowfall and rain in south Wales in recent days.

"A pitch inspection was carried out by Lee Swabey ahead of kick-off earlier this afternoon, with the referee deeming the playing surface unplayable due to the adverse weather.

"Newport County AFC would like to thank the groundstaff for their continued efforts, and details for a rearranged fixture will be announced in due course."

Since late December, Carlisle have faced repeated away-day misfortune.

One trip to Harrogate was shelved after eight minutes due to the pitch, and the rearranged trip two weeks later fell victim to a power cut.

Another away game, at Mansfield, was suspended because of United's Covid-19 outbreak, which also put paid to home fixtures against Leyton Orient and Forest Green.

That Orient game had also been rearranged after the original fixture fell victim to a frozen pitch.

All bar the Newport game have since been rearranged, and 28 days will have passed by the time they bid to return to action at their home ground this Saturday.

The Blues had been hoping to relaunch their push at the top end of the fourth tier at Rodney Parade, with a number of new signings - Offrande Zanzala, Morgan Feeney, Cedwyn Scott - available to boss Chris Beech, along with the returning Ethan Walker.

Some of the United squad took to Twitter to express their dismay that another game had fallen.