HOILETT GEM IS SWEET REVENGE FOR WARNOCK
Neil Warnock is 70 today, becoming only the fourth Premier league manager to reach that age. if he can keep squeezing the most from his modest squad he may yet see another birthday in the top flight.
This result, courtesy of Junior Hoilett’s gorgeously curled strike, was an absolute triumph of his abilities. Trailing from an early stage, his players stuck to their instructions, kept unsettling Wolves and ultimately completed a comeback victory that will give confidence that an unlikely survival bid is possible.
cardiff ’s squad is, in reality, championship quality. But Warnock is looking as fresh as ever and pulled off a tactical trick against nuno espirito Santo, his old adversary. He produced a bespoke plan to tackle Wolves and lived every minute on the touchline, twitching at each kick and studying every second.
at full-time he gave barely a trace of emotion, but surely will have loved this win against the team who caused such irritation last season. He can enjoy his birthday knowing his side start the day in 15th place. and he can appreciate that at 70, he now is in the company of Sir Bobby robson, Sir alex Ferguson, and roy Hodgson. not bad.
For Wolves, the slide continues. They appeared to be on course for an important victory but finished with a fifth defeat in six games and no win since the first weekend of october. nuno has much to address.
The two managers began the night with a very public display of respect. as the cameras rolled nuno greeted Warnock out of the tunnel with a smile, a birthday congratulations and — yes — a handshake. no problems here, was the message.
They had both sung off the same hymn sheet in the build-up to this game too, insisting they had hugged out their differences at the league Managers’ association following promotion.
But these are fiercely competitive individuals and neither will have forgotten the circumstances of their last meeting here in april.
Wolves earned a hugely important victory thanks in part to cardiff missing two stoppage-time penalties and in the celebrations nuno forgot to shake Warnock’s hand. When nuno eventually tried, Warnock was having none of it, this time the cameras capturing the comical sight of cardiff’s manager wafting his hand dismissively at the Portuguese and inviting him in rather crude terms to go away.
and soon enough, the edge in the technical areas resurfaced. Warnock grumbled about a throw-in that went Wolves’ way and got into a spat with Helder costa. nuno was appealing to the fourth official over decisions, and stalking the touchline with usual menace.
and, in the 18th minute, nuno was cheering again. Joao Moutinho delivered an outswinging corner that found the clever run of raul Jimenez, who then glanced a terrific header that was going in until neil etheridge dived to make a one- handed save. But Matt Doherty met the rebound perfectly, thumping a first-time shot into the roof of the net.
cardiff went close to equalising in the 37th minute. Sean Morrison made himself a nuisance at a looping corner that was cleared only as far as Harry arter, who struck a sweet half-volley that agonisingly curled to hit the post.
in the 64th minute arter was at it again, this time hitting a dropping ball from a free-kick with his right. The shot was whistling in until conor coady got a deft glance to put it wide. From the corner, cardiff levelled. once more the clearance only reached arter, who launched the ball high into the box. rui Patricio thought he could claim but was shrewdly blocked off by callum Paterson, with Morrison flicking on to aaron Gunnarsson, who had been granted inordinate space. Gunnarsson chested to control, then swivelled to shoot in.
Then, 12 minutes from the end, the noise exploded. after sustained cardiff pressure, Bobby reid smacked a shot that hit Saiss and rolled to Hoilett, who did not hesitate to strike a wonderful shot that bent into the top corner, leaving Patricio no chance.