CRYSTAL Palace fans who made the long journey to Merseyside have hit out the decision to postpone the Everton match just 30 minutes before kick-off.
The decision to call the match off was taken on police advice, because of safety concerns relating to homes and buildings outside the ground.
But this was only done at 7.15pm - by which time most of the 1,200 Eagles fans travelling up to Liverpool had made it all the way, or at least most of the way, to the stadium.
Simon Leggett was one of around 70 Palace fans who made it inside the ground, before the game was postponed.
He told the Advertiser: "I'd bought my Bovril and my programme and was ready to go.
"Julian [Speroni] and our other two keepers came out to warm up but then they shot off. That's when we twigged the game must be off.
"I was at the Palace Norwich game this season and I think it was windier and wetter then.
"But when we came outside the ground, they told us a few tiles had come off the roofs of the houses.
"It's a bit disappointing. When you consider the warnings they could've called it off a couple of hours earlier."
Johnny Kersee, 26, spent £150 on travel, a hotel and tickets for the match.
He arrived with his brother and a friend at Goodison Park in a taxi - only to be told the game was off, so they promptly got back in the same taxi.
Johnny, now drowning his sorrows in a Liverpool pub, told us: "The weather warnings are in place for a reason, so it should have been called off earlier.
"It is a bit gutting - they should consider where the away fans are coming from.
"If they were playing Man City it wouldn't be so bad, but some of the Palace fans will spend 14 hours on the road."
For the 400 or so fans who took up the offer of free coach travel, after the costs were covered by the club, the financial pain is a little more bearable.
But Amanda Hollidge, who travelled up on supporters' Coach 6 with dad, brother and friend, was still fuming - having booked two days off work to go on the away day.
Amanda, who left her East Grinstead home at 11am, said: "We were stuck on the M6 because it had been shut just ahead and there were huge tailbacks.
"Then, at about 7.15pm, we heard on Twitter that the game had been called off.
"You get psyched to come up for an away game and then they call it off so close to kick-off - it's just ridiculous.
"Everton have tweeted all tickets will be valid for the next game, but it's alright for them - their fans don't have to travel all the way up here again.
"Everton should definitely pay for our travel."
Plenty of Palace fans also took to Twitter, to voice their frustration and anger.
Tony Rhodes tweeted: "Wasn't even able to pick up our tickets as roads either side of the ground were shut due to to flying debris."
Charlotte Royston added: "Been up here since 3 and got no chance of any money back, going to have to do it all again in march/April #nightmare.2
But, looking on the bright side, Daren Lowry tweeted: "Time for a night out in Liverpool now. At least we didn't lose!"
