I DON’T LIKE HALF POINTS
Job’s not done yet warns Canaries boss
DANIEL FARKE has warned his players the job is only half done in their marathon quest to return to the Premier League.
This constricted season may feel as though it’s rattling along to the finish line, but Championship leaders Norwich are now only one game over the halfway mark.
The Canaries have picked up an impressive half-century of points but their German manager insists half-measures will not deliver on their ambition.
“So far so good, you have to say,” said Farke (right), whose team are four points clear of Swansea, eight beyond third-placed Bournemouth and 14 points above Middlesbrough in seventh.
“We are happy with 50 points at this stage. We are more or less labelled as the favourites in every other game, so to deliver this consistency is outstanding.
“But we have to keep going. We have to win many more points. We cannot feel too proud of ourselves.”
In fact, Norwich’s 50-point tally is no better than par for the course compared to recent league leaders having turned to play the back nine.
But eight victories in their last 10 matches suggests Norwich are not showing signs of fatigue and their first-half display on Saturday was dominant.
At the heart of it was Todd Cantwell, 22, who has attracted the interest of Premier League clubs, including Leeds and Fulham.
Cantwell has added grittiness to his list of attributes after a tough season in the top flight last year,
WITH YOU HEART & SOL Cardiff players wore shirts in support of Sol Bamba, who is being treated for cancer but Farke’s message to him is the same as to the squad as a whole.
“We know we have fantastic young players and the key for them is consistency. When you have talented young players, the management job is to make sure they deliver day-in and dayout,” said Farke. “Although they are still young, these lads are doing that.
“If they keep doing that, then we can talk about them taking their game to a different level.” Cantwell scored Norwich’s second after skipper Grant Hanley’s opener and although Joe Ralls pulled a goal back for Cardiff, the Bluebirds were condemned the moment Marlon Pack was sent off for a second yellow card.
Manager Neil Harris talked up his team’s display, but what he cannot stretch is his hold on the job which now looks precarious after five straight defeats.
Cardiff are closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs, although Harris was right in one regard when he dismissed questions over his future as “irrelevant.”
The only view that matters belongs to club owner Vincent Tan. CARDIFF: Smithies 6, Bacuna 5 (Murphy 86), Nelson 5, Bennett 6, Bagan 6, Pack 6, Vaulks 6, Ralls 7, Wilson 6, Glatzel 5 (Moore 57, 7), Hoilett 6 (Ojo 57, 6)
NORWICH: Barden 7, Aarons 7, Hanley 8, Gibson 7, Sorensen 6, McLean 6, Skipp 6, Buendia 7 (Omobamidele, 90), Vrancic 8 (Placheta 75, 6), Cantwell 9 (Tettey 90), Hugill 8
MOTM
TODD CANTWELL (NORWICH)