LOFTY HEIGHTS
Warnock determined to get Bluebirds’ promotion push back on track... starting with his former club
QPR v CARDIFF Loftus Road, 3pm NEIL WARNOCK insists QPR is the perfect place for Cardiff to get back to winning ways.
The Bluebirds boss takes the Welsh side back to one of his former clubs on the back of three straight defeats over the Christmas period.
Cardiff have dropped to fourth in the Championship and Warnock (top, right) said: “We could do without another game, but I’m looking forward to going back to QPR.
“I had a great time there as manager and always enjoy going back. Hopefully, we can get a result.” The Bluebirds’ squad has been savaged by injuries and Warnock admitted his team had “hit a brick wall” following their 1-0 loss to Preston.
Ex-Rangers midfielder Junior Hoilett is likely to return to the Cardiff side at Loftus Road, but Warnock says a raft of January signings is unlikely.
“You could see the lack of confidence in the team against Preston,” he said. “But we can’t go out and sign five players in January, we will just have to play it by ear.
“I’m going to recommend two to three players to the board and hopefully they will listen.” Joe Bennett and Craig Bryson became City’s latest injury casualties in the build-up to Preston and both are unlikely to face QPR. Lee Peltier is set to continue at left-back in Bennett’s absence.
“This has been a tough week for us, but we have to get players back fit and get on with it,” Warnock said. Ian Holloway believes victory over Cardiff today will save the Hoops’ Christmas.
But the Rangers boss knows they must find a way of scoring, having fired blanks in their last two matches.
QPR played with Idrissa Sylla and youngster Bright Osayi-Samuel upfront against Millwall and the pair failed to spark.
Holloway (left) said: “You have to score, when you get into crossing positions, you need to give your centreforwards chances to score.
“Our forwards aren’t quite looking a threat. We need to take the steam out of it and score the first goal.
“I don’t think we are that far off.
“Cardiff have lost three in a row, so every Championship game is massive.”