LOWTON: SORRY NEIL – CLARETS NEED POINTS TOO

MATT LOWTON wants his old gaffer Neil Warnock to stay up – but not at Burnley’s expense.

Lowton began his career under Warnock at Sheffield United as a teenager 15 years ago, and is grateful for the help he gave him.

The defender (above) would love to see Warnock crown his long career by finally keeping a side up in the top-flight, 27 years after he first tried with Notts County.

Lowton will be reunited with Warnock when Cardiff visit Turf Moor in today’s relegation showdown and admits his priority is ensuring the Clarets survive.

“Neil was very helpful to me,” he said.

“He taught me a lot – that football’s not just about football. There’s all the hard work as well, and how you’ve got to make sure everything is done right every day.

“He’s very good and loves the game.

He’s very passionate, which is why he’s still in management.

“It would be great for him, if he did manage to keep them up. But, obviously, not at our expense.”

Lowton, 29, says Warnock (circle) taught him the dark arts of gamesmanship as a Blades ballboy, which led to a confrontation with Steven

Gerrard in 2006.

He tried to hang onto the ball when Liverpool were awarded a spot-kick at

Bramall Lane, in an attempt to waste time and unnerve penalty-taker Robbie Fowler.

Fowler scored to earn

Liverpool a 1-1 draw and the right-back said: “If we were winning, and the ball went out, you could see him telling us to slow things down.

“That happens all over. Obviously, as a kid, you don’t want to get into trouble, you just do as the manager says.

“Once, when we played Liverpool, Steven Gerrard won a controversial penalty, and I tried to delay giving the ball back.”

Lowton was delighted to make his first start since Boxing Day in last Saturday’s crucial win at Bournemouth, in place of Phil Bardsley, who cut his leg on a table tennis table in a freak accident playing head tennis.

The former Aston Villa man admits it has been hard watching from the bench for the last few months.

“It felt good to be back in at the weekend,” Lowton added. “It’s been a while. Everybody wants to play, but Bardo has come in and done great.

“I just kept working hard, waiting for my chance, and hopefully I can stay in now.” Apr 27 May 12 Today Apr 27 May 12 Today Apr 27 May 12 Fulham (away) ............ PL Man Utd (away) .......... PL Wolves (home) ............ PL Bournemouth (home) PL Huddersfield (home) ..PL Bournemouth (home) PL Newcastle (home) ...... PL Man City (home) ......... PL