Warnock’s warriors pay tribute to Sala
CONSIDERING the two weeks they have had to endure, it was amazing that Cardiff City were able to secure back-to-back topflight wins for the first time since April 1962.
The news that Emiliano Sala’s body had been found in the wreckage of the plane taking him to Cardiff was broken to Neil Warnock just days ago.
For his side to then take three points off a Southampton side unbeaten in the Premier League this year, highlighted the professionalism of Warnock and his players.
It was a gutsy performance which could prove priceless come May. The win lifted Cardiff out of the relegation zone and the relief was written all over the manager’s face at full time.
What a frantic finish it was, too. Jack Stephens equalised for Southampton in the first minute of added time, cancelling out Sol Bamba’s opener, but substitute substitute Kenneth Zohore won it two minutes later.
Warnock went wild, as did the players on the pitch and the staff on the sidelines.
‘The Blues are staying up and now you’re gonna believe us,’ sang the travelling supporters.
Against all odds, they just might. ‘Looking at the bookies this morning, we were 4/1 in a twohorse race and no one expected us to win,’ Warnock said. ‘We were determined.
‘While we’re limited, you cannot question the character or what my players have got under their shirts. They’ve got bags of heart, my lads. You cannot replicate when you retire that feeling when that final whistle goes, when that last goal goes in. I’ll enjoy every minute while I’m here.’
Afterwards, the Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl seemed ice-cool on the surface but inside he was a volcano ready to erupt. ‘Conceding goals like that, we have no chance to stay in the Premier League,’ he admitted. ‘The way we gave four points away this week (they also conceded a stoppage-time equaliser to Burnley last weekend), we rolled a very big stone in our way and it will take a lot of work to remove it.
‘It’s a disaster. We have to sleep on it. It feels horrible. Maybe when we wake up tomorrow, it won’t feel better, it will feel worse. I don’t want to make drama but we have to be honest with ourselves.’
There were touching tributes to Sala at the start, including a wonderfully-observed minute’s silence, with thousands of fans wearing daffodils on the lapels of their coats.
Cardiff defended doggedly and while Southampton enjoyed the lion’s share of possession – 67 per cent in the first half – there was little end product.
In the 69th minute, the visitors had their first shot on target and scored. A corner was swung in, Callum Paterson headed the ball for goal and Bamba applied the final touch.
He instantly sprinted into the stand housing away supporters to celebrate. It was worth the yellow card from Martin Atkinson.
Heroic defending from Lee Peltier denied Southampton when he twice blocked shots on the line from Charlie Austin then Mohamed Elyounoussi.
The fourth official’s board showed five minutes of added time, and Southampton had a corner. The ball crept through the six-yard box and Stephens tapped it in at the back post.
Just as it looked as if it would finish 1-1, Cardiff went for the win. Harry Arter shanked a shot before Victor Camarasa fed Zohore, who found the bottom corner.
Cardiff’s supporters left singing about the striker they never got to see wear a blue shirt. The players did their part too, paying tribute to Sala with this win. Southampton (3-5-2): McCarthy 5; Bednarek 5, Stephens 5, Vestergaard 5 (Elyounoussi 72min, 6); Valery 6.5 (Gallagher 83), Hojbjerg 5, Romeu 5.5, WardProwse 5.5, Bertrand 5.5; Long 5 (Austin 72, 6), Redmond 5.5. Booked: Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Romeu. Subs (not used): Gunn, Yoshida, Targett, Slattery. cardiFF (4-1-4-1): Etheridge 7; Peltier 7.5, Manga 7, Bamba 8, Bennett 7; Gunnarsson 6.5 (Bacuna 62, 6); Paterson 6.5, Arter 6.5, Ralls 6.5, Reid 6.5 (Zohore 62, 7); Niasse 6 (Camarasa 83). Booked: Bamba, Gunnarsson, Zohore. Subs (not used): Smithies, Murphy, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett. referee: M Atkinson 6.