Harris faces fight for job
NOT even playing on their favourite away ground could keep Cardiff in the FA Cup – and piled the pressure on boss Neil Harris.
The Bluebirds looked barely awake for the noon kick-off and it turned into a nightmare for Harris when they went one down to Forest in three minutes.
For the rest of the tie Cardiff got the ball and kept it.
They ran Forest around the City Ground where the Welsh club had won their last six games, including one this season in the league. Cardiff don’t have a better record at any away ground in the country – but even that didn’t rescue Harris.
It is four successive defeats now in all competitions and Harris is fighting for his job.
He said: “I can’t control that, I understand the question about my job, but I’d rather focus on the players.
“It was a much better performance.
“Unless I’m told otherwise I have the club’s support.
“I speak all the time with the chief exec and the chairman.
“They know what I want to improve on.
“But we’ve got an injury nightmare at the moment.
“The club wants better and I want better results to try and change the mentality of the club.
“I hope they are backing me in the transfer market this month but I understand criticism and the expectation level.”
Cardiff were in trouble the moment Gaetan Bong was given all the time he needed.
He raided down the left side inside three minutes and he offered a chance to Lyle Taylor, who volleyed in a fierce right-footed drive to put Forest ahead. Cardiff were so badly affected by injury they had only one fit centre-half, Curtis Nelson, and picked only seven of the nine subs allowed – and two of those were kids.
So perhaps Harris will get some leeway from his bosses.
Cardiff had 61 per cent possession but out of their 15 shots, only three were on target.
It left Forest, unbeaten in six now, off the hook and they go into tomorrow’s fourth round draw for the first time in three years.
“It was a battle,” agreed Forest boss Chris Hughton.
“We probably made hard work of it but I’m pleased to get through. We need more creativity and that’s what we will be looking for in the transfer window.”