Angry Bristol City boss Gary Johnson has called upon the Football League to launch an enquiry into the events which led to the belated postponement of today's Coca-Cola Championship match against Crystal Palace in south London.

The game was called off at 6.30pm last night – just four hours after Palace officials had given assurances that the Selhurst Park pitch was fit for play.

City had already set off on their journey to the capital and the late decision left Johnson and his players fuming at the end of a day of frustration on the M4.

"We asked everyone over and over again for an early decision," fumed Johnson, pictured. "We were originally leaving Ashton Gate at 1pm, but held off until 2pm and then 2.30pm when we got the call that the pitch was fine.

"Then at 4pm we received a call from Palace to say there was going to be a pitch inspection an hour later, so we pulled into the Marriott Hotel at Langley to await a decision. We were just left waiting there twiddling our thumbs.

"In the end the inspection didn't take place until 6pm with a decision made half an hour later to take another look in the morning. We carried on for another 20 minutes down the road before getting a call to say the game was now off.

"Overall it has been a very disappointing day and one that could have been avoided. It would be interesting to see the outcome of an enquiry into all of this."

Match referee Kevin Wright made the journey from Cambridgeshire to carry out an early-evening inspection and, after consultation with Palace officials, initially gave the game the thumbs up.

But he then took a second, independent, look at the pitch, discovered it was frozen and unplayable in parts and made the decision to call the game off, causing City's team coach to turn about and head back to Bristol.

Bristol City's players were given today off and will report for training tomorrow to begin preparations for Tuesday's rearranged FA Cup third round tie with Cardiff at Ashton Gate.