Derby spat is snow big deal for Neil
NEIL WARNOCK has denied bad blood exists between promotion-chasing Cardiff and Derby after their Championship game was postponed in controversial circumstances last month.
The two clubs will meet at Pride Park tonight, 37 days after the original fixture was put off when Derby said heavy snow meant the area surrounding the stadium was in an “unsafe condition”.
Cardiff manager Warnock called the decision a “disgrace” and said Derby did not want to play the game because of an injury crisis. Extra spice was added to the fixture when Cardiff captain Sean Morrison was shown using offensive language to taunt Derby players in a social media video, actions for which he later apologised.
Warnock took another dig at Derby after Saturday’s home win over Nottingham Forest put the Bluebirds back in the second automatic promotion spot, replying “weather permitting” when asked if he was looking forward to this evening.
But Warnock was in more diplomatic mood yesterday. “I’m definitely not going to give you any extra lines that you’re looking for,” he said.
“But there’s no bad blood – life’s too short. The players get on quite well with each other, even if they did have that Twitter thing, but with what we’re both fighting for there’s always going to be an edge. There will be plenty of handshakes at the end of the game.”
Tonight’s game is the first of two matches this week that could see Cardiff clinch the second automatic promotion place behind champions Wolves.
They are one point above thirdplaced Fulham with a game in hand and if they win here and then at Hull on Saturday, it would earn Warnock an unprecedented eighth promotion at the age of 69. His side finish at home to Reading on Sunday week, while Fulham host relegated Sunderland on Friday and visit Birmingham on the last day, May 6.
“My tips for promotion at the start of the season were Middlesbrough and Derby, so full credit to Wolves and Fulham,” said Warnock. “We’ve done well to be in that group and that’s what makes me even prouder. If we fall short we’ll just have to crack on and have a go at the play-offs. We’d all have accepted that at the start of the season.”
Derby have slipped outside the playoff places after three successive defeats, but drawing their game in hand will take them above sixth-placed Millwall on goal difference.
Derby manager Gary Rowett said they “need to produce” with three games left, while he was keener than Warnock to talk about the fall-out of last month’s postponement
“Neil has created a bit of needle, hasn’t he?” said Rowett. “I don’t think anyone else has tried to stoke it up.
“That’s fine. I have no problem with that. That’s his management style – he has always been quite abrasive in that sense. I still think he is a really good guy and he has done a fantastic job. It’s all a bit of panto at times.” WOLVES (C) CARDIFF FULHAM A VILLA M’BORO MILLWALL DERBY BRENTFORD PRESTON BRISTOL C SHEFF UTD LEEDS NORWICH IPSWICH S WED QPR NOTTM F HULL READING B’HAM BOLTON BARNSLEY P W D L F A PTS 44 30 8 6 82 36 98 43 26 8 9 66 36 86 44 24 13 7 76 42 85 44 24 10 10 71 40 82 44 21 9 14 63 43 72 44 18 15 11 55 43 69 43 18 14 11 62 45 68 44 18 14 12 61 49 68 44 17 16 11 54 45 67 44 17 15 12 65 55 66 44 19 9 16 59 52 66 44 16 9 19 56 62 57 44 14 15 15 46 54 57 44 16 8 20 51 58 56 44 13 14 17 54 59 53 44 14 11 19 55 67 53 43 14 7 22 46 62 49 44 11 15 18 69 67 48 44 10 13 21 48 66 43 44 12 7 25 34 64 43 44 9 1322 36 70 40 43 8 14 21 45 65 38