MANAGER OF THE YEAR
IF WARNOCK LEADS CARDIFF TO SAFETY, LOOK NO FURTHER FOR THE…
Hands up if you thought Cardiff City would be relegation fodder this season. now keep them raised if you feared they might rival derby County’s record-low 11 points from 2007-08.
What fools we were. Our mistake was underestimating neil Warnock, football’s Marmite manager who prides himself on making a mockery of pundits, bookmakers or anybody who writes him off.
This win lifted Cardiff out of the Premier League’s bottom three. should they secure safety come May, look no further for your Manager of the season.
‘I should win two!’ Warnock joked when told he would be a shoo-in for the award if Cardiff survive. Then, sensibly he added: ‘It’s a long way off. Let’s not get carried away.’
But really, who would rival him? Pep Guardiola, who has spent more than half a billion pounds on transfers since becoming manager of Manchester City in 2016?
Jurgen Klopp maybe? Liverpool winning the title would be momentous but not entirely unexpected, considering they too have spent well and were Champions League finalists last year.
at southampton, Cardiff secured their first consecutive top-flight wins since 1962, despite having to cope with the death of the striker they tragically never got to see feature for them. The passing away of Emiliano sala was confirmed on Thursday and Warnock dedicated this victory to him.
Cardiff’s owners offered to fund a four- day trip to Tenerife for the 70-year- old Warnock and his squad, but the manager said no. Instead he has instructed his players to spend time with their families and reflect.
‘after what’s happened over the past two weeks, I’d rather cuddle my kids if I’m honest and see my missus,’ Warnock said. ‘I’ve never known anything like this in my life and I’ve seen most things.
‘The players will all be reflecting on what’s happened and I think your family is more important than football, isn’t it?’
This game began with tributes to sala, including a well- observed minute’s silence at st Mary’s, and Cardiff seemed to have spirit coursing through their veins.
They defended doggedly then took the lead in the 70th minute through sol Bamba with their first shot on target. He celebrated by jumping into the stand housing the away supporters. The yellow card was worth it.
The fourth official’s board offered five more minutes of action and southampton made it 1-1 seconds into stoppage time as centre half Jack stephens tapped in at the back post.
Then, as the clock ticked down, Cardiff had the ball towards the corner and it was suggested to Warnock that they keep it there. Hogwash, he decided, telling them to put it in the box.
a cross came in and the visitors secured their win via a scuffed shot from substitute Kenneth Zohore. Who knows how pivotal those two extra points could prove come the end of the season. southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl was not amused. He used words such as ‘horrible’ and ‘brutal’ when analysing this loss, his fourth in 11 Premier League games in charge — and second to Cardiff.
This was one of those doublewhammy defeats. It lifted Cardiff towards safety while simultaneously dragging southampton back into it. and the lesson learned was never to write off Warnock.
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, Ward-Prowse 5.5, Bertrand 5.5; Long 5 (Austin 72, 6), Redmond 5.5. Subs not used: Gunn, Yoshida, Targett, Slattery. Scorer: Stephens 90+1. Booked: Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Romeu. Manager: Ralph Hasenhuttl 5. 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). Subs not used: Smithies, Murphy, Mendez-Laing, Hoilett. Scorers: Bamba 69, Zohore 90+3. Booked: Gunnarsson, Bamba, Zohore. Manager: Neil Warnock 7.5. Referee: Martin Atkinson 6. Attendance: 31,438.