FANS fumed as Sky Sports’ build-up to their live fixture went down.
The broadcaster was supposed to be getting ready for Leicester City’s trip to West Brom in the Championship.
Sky SportsCoverage of West Brom vs Leicester was cut forcing Sky to show replays[/caption]
None of the warm-ups were available for viewers to watchGetty
The programme started at 12pm, 30 minutes before kick-off in the West Midlands.
But with a technical fault, there was no live coverage.
Instead, those tuning in to Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football were left disappointed.
Sky showed old cricket highlights before a replay of Cardiff City vs Swansea City from 2009 then Huddersfield vs Reading in 2017 and 2014’s Derby vs QPR Championship play-off final.
The latter started at around 12.25pm, just five minutes before the game was due to get underway with still no sign of the live action being shown.
A banner on the screen read: “We’re really sorry for the temporary fault and hope to return to the scheduled programme shortly.”
Plenty of Baggies and Foxes supporters were furious they could not watch the pre-match coverage from The Hawthorns.
One said: “Hello @SkySports can we have the football on and not highlights of Moeen Ali’s career pls.”
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Another wrote: “Come on @skysports where is the match?”
A third commented: “Move the games to broadcast them.. then it doesn’t work. Well done @SkySports you absolute cabbages.”
A fourth added: “Funny how this never happens for a Prem game, in this day and age this is pathetic from @SkySports.”
Eventually at 12.30pm with the players on the pitch about to kick off, the cameras cut to The Hawthorns.
The commentator Gary Weaver immediately said: “Apologies, we have had some major technical issues.”
He then confirmed there would be slightly reduced coverage with no graphics or replays until the problem was fixed.
Then the studio presenter David Prutton was overhead speaking off-air.
Things, though, appeared to be sorted out just in time for the game’s start.
Leicester went into the game top of the Championship table, one point clear of Ipswich after a run of just one win in the last four.
West Brom, meanwhile, started the day in fifth hoping to upset Enzo Maresca’s leaders.
Sky SportsSky Sports put on highlights from old Championship matches with no pre-match build-up[/caption]
PAThe game kicked off at 12.30pm with commentary available[/caption]