Wigan Athletic P-P Oxford United: Match off because of U's Covid cases

Wigan's home League One game against Oxford United has been postponed after seven of the visitors' players tested positive for Covid.

The players felt unwell overnight and received positive lateral flow tests on Saturday morning prior to kick-off.

The game was called off following talks between the two clubs and the English Football League.

A U's statement said: "The players involved will return to Oxford away from the main group of players."

Both teams were last in action in FA Cup replays on Tuesday evening with Oxford losing 4-3 away to Bristol Rovers and Wigan winning 2-1 at Solihull Moors.

"The League will review the circumstances surrounding the postponement with a rearranged date for the fixture to be confirmed in due course following consultation between all parties," said an EFL statement.

Oxford's next scheduled fixture is at home to Fleetwood Town on Tuesday.

Manager Karl Robinson said it was too early to say what may happen with both that match and their home fixture next Saturday against Rotherham United, with up to 10 players potentially unavailable.

Robinson also revealed one player was earlier ruled out of the match at Wigan following a positive test on Wednesday, while more rounds of testing on Thursday and Friday returned a full set of negative results.

"We tested again when we got to Wigan on Friday night," he told the club website.

"Then one or two players started feeling unwell overnight and so we tested again when they came down at 09:00 GMT.

"Five of them tested positive including our one available goalkeeper [Simon Eastwood].

"We contacted the EFL and asked for permission to try and sign a goalkeeper on emergency loan and provided that happened, we would still have been happy to play the game.

"But by 11:00 GMT, we had two more positive tests and it was becoming clear we couldn't get a goalkeeper in time so we had no option but to call the game off.

"We were in contact with Wigan. I was in touch with their manager [Leam Richardson] all the time, and with the EFL, and we got the news out as quickly as we could.

"But obviously we feel sorry for fans of both clubs who will have been looking forward to what should have been a really exciting game."

Oxford are planning more PCR tests from Monday and will also look again into the possibility of an emergency loan deal for a goalkeeper if required.

"For now, our priority is just making sure everyone is safe and well," Robinson added.

Sutton United's League Two away game at Colchester in September was called off because of Covid cases within their squad, while Harrogate Town had three fixtures postponed in August for similar reasons.