IT’S OVER & OUT , MICK
Mccarthy axed as Warnock enjoys return
MICK MCCARTHY was finally put out of his misery after old pal Neil Warnock returned to Cardiff to deliver the last rites.
Mccarthy and his assistant Terry Connor paid the price for an eighth straight loss – the worst run in the club’s history – within hours of the final whistle against Warnock’s Middlesbrough.
Andraz Sporar’s penalty and a Martin Payero strike was enough for Boro to coast home – and end Mccarthy’s nine-month reign in Wales.
Chris Wilder is the red-hot favourite to fill the vacancy left by the veteran Irishman’s exit having been out of work since leaving Sheffield United in March.
But chairman Mehmet Dalman emphasised once again, as he had done in the summer, there would be no money available for the new manager when the transfer window reopens in January. “There’s still no money – we’ll do the best we can,” he said.
There was also some irony in the final defeat – the sixth straight at home, also an unwanted record – coming at the hands of a side managed by Warnock.
And while fans taunted Mccarthy with chants of ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’, the home supporters enjoyed a love-in with Warnock after the final whistle. “I had to go round the ground and applaud them,” said the Boro boss, who led Cardiff to the Premier League in 2018. “I said I’d do that after whatever the result. I had three magnificent years here. How we got promotion that year, I’ll never know. It was one of the best jobs of my life.
“I had to go and thank them and they deserved that because they did support me.”
Mccarthy gambled by dropping Wales striker Kieffer Moore and left club captain Sean Morrison on the bench. But his young side were second best besides a brief spell of pressure early in the second half.
Sporar opened the scoring on 35 minutes from the penalty spot after his shot had struck the hand of Mark Mcguinness in the box.
It was a harsh decision but one that goes against you when struggling.
Mccarthy sent on Moore at the start of the second half and Aden Flint hit the bar. But Boro sealed the win on 74 minutes as Slovenian ace Sporar laid the ball off for Payero to fire into the bottom corner.
Warnock’s men are in the hunt for the play-offs after three straight wins but he is remaining grounded.
“We haven’t got to get too carried away,” he added. “We could have scored more goals, but to get two at a place like this is really pleasing.” CARDIFF CITY: Smithies 6; Ng 5 (Moore, 46, 6), Mcguinness 4, Flint 6, Brown 5; Giles 6, Vaulks 5 (King 79), Pack 5, Colwill 6; Harris 6 (Davies 79); Collins 6. Subs not used: Phillips, Morrison, Nelson, Evans. MIDDLESBROUGH: Lumley 7; Mcnair 8, Bamba 9, Peltier 7; Howson 6, Crooks 6, Payero 8, Tavernier 7, Hernandez 6 (Jones 62, 6); Ikpeazu 6 (Coburn 85), Sporar 8 (Watmore 82) .
Daniels, Olusanya, Siliki, Kokolo . MAN OF THE MATCH: Sol Bamba. Proved a point to Mccarthy, who released him last summer, with an imperious display at the back. A real leader. REFEREE: Jeremy Simpson 7.