Blackpool's weekend trip to Gresty Road to GO AHEAD after Crewe Alexandra players and staff return negative Covid-19 tests

The game was thrown into doubt earlier this week when Crewe's rearranged midweek fixture against Oxford United was postponed over Covid concerns.

The original fixture, which was due to take place on October 3, was called off just 35 minutes before kick-off when Crewe defender Omar Beckles tested positive for Covid-19.

The Oxford clash was rescheduled for Tuesday night, but that was also postponed following latest government advice with the EFL revealing Crewe were "unable to fulfil the fixture".

However, Crewe have since revealed all players and staff have returned negative Covid tests - meaning Saturday's encounter against the Seasiders can go ahead as planned.

Crewe boss Dave Artell has been left livid by the situation, pointing his finger at Oxford boss Karl Robinson.

"I don’t have an answer for why the game was postponed, that is the honest truth. You are asking the wrong man," he said.

"Karl Robinson in Oxford seems to be the man with all the answers with the words he spoke in the press this week.

“He questioned the integrity of me and this football club and I think what he has said is a disgrace. It has been all falsehoods, fake news is the modern term, to get that game postponed.

“We had no positive cases, no-one was ill and we were made to say we couldn’t play and I was livid. I am still livid.

“I completely understand the first postponement because no-one could foresee that happening on the day of the game, but Tuesday was nothing like that.

“I understand that the EFL act cautiously but there has to be some justification to it and not just based on falsehoods and accusations from another football club and them kicking off.

“That is what happens when you cannot test. We have been tested again this week because of this and we have had them all back, players and staff…all negative. I bet there are not many EFL clubs that have been tested twice in two weeks, that is for sure.

“That makes it even more disgusting because we were ready to play a game of football on Tuesday and for whatever reason, someone didn’t want to play. You will have to ask him why.

“We haven’t broken one rule and even the police were involved I am told. Thankfully they came back with no case to answer, like we thought they would.

"The way this club has been criticised this week is unjust and at times you have to fight back and say what is being said or what has been said is wrong.”