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Mark Clattenburg’s pitch inspection at 10.30am was no more than a formality. Heavy rain in the area was forecast to continue for most of the day, leaving the referee with an easy decision to make.

The only criticism would be that the decision could have been made earlier, by 10.30am most Charlton fans were already en route to Hillsborough.

This is how Clattenburg explained the decision:

“The forecast is for rain all afternoon. Even taking safety out of it at this moment, I’m not sure we could get the pitch playable by three o’clock.

“Could I have delayed the kick-off? Even with a couple of hours, with the water that’s coming down, if the pitch had a 50-50 chance, I would have given it all the time possible. I’ve got to understand that Charlton supporters are travelling up from London and maybe some have set off so I’ve got to make a decision on that as well.

“At this moment the pitch had no chance, and with the weather, I can’t say that at five o’clock the pitch would be playable.

“I’m very disappointed. I’ve worked all week to referee on Saturday, the same as the players who are ready for a Saturday, and it’s an important game, the fifth round of the FA Cup is special.

“For two teams who are fighting against relegation in the Championship, this is a wonderful relief, a special time to get into the quarter-finals.

“As to when it can be rearranged, it’s always tough because there are many games ahead, and European games that won’t allow the game to be played at a certain time.

“It’s disappointing for everybody but when the game’s played we hope it’s going to be a wonderful spectacle,” said Clattenburg.

A slight slip at the end by the referee, European games will not affect when this match is played.

The FA prioritise cup games and try to get them played as soon as possible. The Police obviously have to authorise the date but their insistence of needing ten days notice to arrange availability of officers seems to have been relaxed this season.

When Charlton’s match against Oxford was called off it was rescheduled for just five days later, albeit that the date was never a realistic possibility, due to the condition of the Valley pitch.

The Owls have a rearranged fixture with Derby at Hillsborough scheduled for Tuesday 18 February, and another home game the following Tuesday – 25 February – against Queens Park Rangers.

The Addicks are due to play their rearranged game with Barnsley on 25 February, so there will definitely be further fixture disruption to at least one of the clubs.

It is likely that the Addicks would have had Tuesday 18 February pencilled in for the provisional replay date and it may be that this will be the FA’s preferred date for the game at Hillsborough to be played.

The possibility of a replay has to be factored into the decision, so restaging the game next week would be the best option. If this is the plan, an announcement would need to be made very quickly though.

The postponement was the last thing Charlton wanted. They have rearranged games with Barnsley, Bournemouth, Leeds and now Sheffield Wednesday to play, as well as scheduled midweek league matches against Huddersfield, Nottingham Forest, Yeovil and Sheffield Wednesday.

A replay against Wednesday would see the Addicks facing nine midweek fixtures before the end of the season, with further disruptions caused by the weather still a possibility.

The slog of playing Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday for the rest of the season will require careful use of the squad to keep the players fresh as they battle for Championship survival.

There is no danger of this season just petering out!