The Premier League was plunged into the dark yet again on Monday when a third match was called off because of a floodlights failure.

Wimbledon and Arsenal were drawing 0-0 at Selhurst Park when the lights went out on the players a minute into the second half.

After a half-hour delay referee Dermot Gallagher was forced to call the game off.

Electricians examined the lights and discovered that although they could put them back on they could not guarantee they would not fail again.

The power cut may have been an overload caused by the Christmas lights in nearby Croydon and the crowd were probably left wishing they were out late night shopping instead.

For Wimbledon it was the second time this season they had been hit by a power cut - they were the visitors at Derby back in September.

Marcus Gayle hits the post in the first half

Dons manager Joe Kinnear was philosophical about the abandonment and could even afford to joke.

"There is a rumour that Ian Wright brought some wirecutters with him," he said.

Kinnear said: "We would love to have finished the job. It's very frustrating.

"I don't know whether too much power was being used on Christmas lights."

Police Superintendent John Lansley said it was too early to say what had caused the fault.

He said: "It's vital that the games happen at the time they should be and without interruptions, which bring about safety considerations."

Ian Wright's lob is saved by Neil Sullivan

Supt Lansley praised the crowd for accepting the decision and leaving the ground in an "orderly and positive way."

But some fans were very disgruntled.

One supporter told Sky television: "It's very poor. There are millionsof pounds going into football and there is no excuse for this."

Wimbledon chairman Sam Hammam promised to offer everyone at the match free admission to the game when it is restaged and admitted he was ashamed of the situation.

He said: "Once was bad enough, the second wasn't pretty and this is getting near a disaster. Unless we stop it there will be shame on the game. We are all embarrassed by it."

Ian Wright had a disappointing night

The blackout overshadowed what had been a fairly lifeless game.

Ian Wright, whose fears that last week's public explosion would see the Arsenal fans turning on him en masse were not realised, wasted the Gunners' best chance, racing in on David Seaman's clearance but chipping into Neil Sullivan's hands.

But the best chance of the game fell to Wimbledon, for whom Marcus Gayle hit a post from Neil Ardley's cross.

It is thought the Premier League will order an inquiry into the abandonment, the third this season, following Derby v Wimbledon and West Ham v Crystal Palace.

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