JOSH IS STILL FUL OF HOPE FOR TOP TWO
Ward
MATCH-WINNER Danny Ward insists Cardiff’s resilience can carry them all the way to the Premier League.
After his late goal ended Lee Johnson’s reign as the longestserving Championship boss, he spoke positively about the remainder of the play-off challenge.
“We’ve become very tough to beat and that’s really helped us,” said Ward, who replaced Calum Paterson after 79 minutes.
“The lads starting games have been laying a great foundation and those coming on as subs have built on that. It shows what a great squad we have. This was my first time out there since lockdown. It’s always nice to return with a goal.”
Ward is out of contract at the end of the season, having signed an extension to play in the final games. But his cool low finish from Lee Tomlin’s 85th minute pass had team-mates and manager alike hoping the forward agrees a new deal.
Midfielder Joe
Ralls said: “In those sorts of positions, there’s no one I’d rather have on the end of it than Wardy. He’s a great finisher.”
Boss Neil Harris added: “Danny’s a nice lad, as well as a very good player, and I want to continue working with him.”
Johnson (left) might still be in a job had Bristol City sub
Filip Benkovic not headed wide from a great chance shortly before Ward struck.
Instead, a winless streak extended to nine games and soon after the final whistle the club announced the head coach, who took charge in February 2016, had been relieved of his duties.
During his final press conference, Johnson hinted he could be on the way out. Asked if his job was under threat, he replied: “You will have to ask the board about that. It’s certainly my most challenging time since we lost eight games in a row a few seasons ago.
“We haven’t been good enough since the restart and there is no hiding from that. Today we lacked quality on the
Referee: Tim Robinson break and in our passing, delivery into the box and finishing. But we still had chances to win. When Benkovic rose to head that late corner my eyes lit up.”
Johnson has seen a host of his best players sold in the past couple of years, including Bobby Reid, Joe Bryan, Aden Flint, Lloyd Kelly, Adam Webster and Josh Brownhill. “Any club around the world would find it hard to progress when that happens,” he said.
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SEAN MORRISON (CARDIFF)
FULHAM are on a roll that may yet take them to the Premier League without the need for the play-offs.
Former Tottenham midfielder Josh Onomah (above, being congratulated by Bobby Reid) scored a last-gasp winner that kept his team’s pursuit of automatic promotion alive.
But to keep the pressure on West Brom and Leeds in the top two, Onomah knows Fulham need a win at promotion rivals Nottingham Forest tomorrow.
“The team morale is very high, everyone is pushing each other, even those not starring,” said Onomah. “We have to carry on this positive momentum and focus on Forest. They’ve had a good few results since they have come back, too, but we have to bring it to them and hopefully get the three points there.”
Onomah’s winner came five minutes into stoppage time after he was sent on as a sub, and he added: “As a sub you see the game from a different point of view. I was hoping to affect the game and thankfully I had the last shot and scored.”
While back-to-back wins have boosted Fulham, Birmingham have not won since February 11 and are in freefall.
Blues hit the woodwork twice, but boss Pep Clotet admits his team may only avoid a relegation scrap if the mounting pressure not to hand Wigan a 12-point deduction for going into administration proves unsuccessful.
He said: “I am not an expert if that needs to be applied now or next season. Clarity is always good, but the rules are rules.”
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