CAMBRIDGE United have called for an urgent investigation into their postponed clash at Southend United on Saturday.

The Shrimpers opted to call the game off late on Friday evening after insisting they were unable to field a team.

But the U’s chief executive Ian Mather wants the EFL to look into the incident as quickly as possible.

In a club statement, Mather said: “We accept that in the pandemic affected world we live in there will be times when games cannot be played.

“All clubs do though have a duty to do their best to ensure games are played if at all possible, to maintain the integrity of the competition.

“The EFL have confirmed, as is normal in such circumstance, that an investigation will take place as to why this game was called off on Friday evening less than 18 hours before we were due to play.

“In this instance we expect the EFL to conduct their investigation as a matter of urgency.

“Something clearly went badly wrong for the game to be cancelled so late and there is no point in learning those lessons when we are a long way through the season – they need to be understood now.”

Blues will be back in action against Forest Green Rovers tomorrow night but will still be without a trio of players due to coronavirus restrictions.

But Mather feels Saturday’s postponement will be disruptive for his own side’s season.

He added: “The postponement has been disruptive to our own schedule and will leave us at a competitive disadvantage when the fixture is rearranged in what is a compressed season.

“It is also likely that we will be playing this match after the January transfer window and we may face a strengthened Southend squad.

“We call on Southend United to offer their full cooperation with any fast track enquiry for the benefit of all clubs as we have a collective interest in managing our way through this difficult season.”