City keeping bid to reach
NEIL Warnock has spoken of how he’s felt at home at Cardiff City – and his side are proving it as they get set to return to their own patch.
And he has called for the supporters to play their part in keeping that record going ahead of back-toback home fixtures that can keep those promotion hopes bubbling.
Warnock has previously spoken of being settled in South Wales, the rising crowds at Cardiff City Stadium proving supporters are clearly happy with things too as the Bluebirds sit second in the Championship table.
Following two successive games on the road, Cardiff return to Leckwith with a double-header that starts with Saturday’s visit of Millwall before the Halloween hosting of Ipswich.
The games give Cardiff a chance to enhance their claims to making Cardiff City Stadium a fortress again having only dropped two points on their own turf this term.
Along with Aston Villa and Preston, they are one of only three teams not to be beaten at home, Cardiff only shipping a paltry three in the process – a tally not bettered by any home defence in the division.
Villa (15), Wolves (16) and Sheffield United (18) have all amassed more points than the 14 collected by Cardiff in games against Villa, the Blades, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds and Derby.
However, only Sheffield United – currently joint second – have a better points per game with all three having played one more game in front of their own fans.
Furthermore, Cardiff can argue to have had the tougher run at home with half of their six opponents currently occupying the top six – with all beaten.
Warnock is more aware than most that form and stature all count for very little in the Championship, subscribing to the old adage that “everybody can beat everybody else” but adds: “it is nice to be at home and we’re glad of it, make no mistake about it – but we have to make it count.
“Our record isn’t bad – I think we’ve been quite clinical – and we’ve got a good win up at Middlesbrough to come home with.
“But the crowd have got to get behind us now, they have got their jobs to do too.”
Still, with Cardiff’s away record also stacking up as one to envy, Warnock warned it’s not a case of win or bust just because the’re back on familiar ground.
And he said: “We just have to pick up as many points as we can. We haven’t got to get upset if we only get a point at home because we have shown we’re capable of getting results like Boro away from home.
“We don’t have to go gung-ho and end up with nothing, we just have to tick along with points and be professional.”
“But I do hope we can get a good crowd, starting with Millwall, and have a good go over the next two games.” NEIL Warnock has undoubtedly transformed Cardiff City into one of the most resilient sides in the Championship.
And while the likes of Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett have rightly received plenty of plaudits during the Bluebirds’ magnificent start to the 2017-18 campaign, captain Sean Morrison has been one of the unsung heroes in the Welsh capital.
Following Cardiff’s 1-0 victory over Burton on the opening day of the campaign, Morrison revealed details of a conversation with Kevin Blackwell in which Warnock’s assistant told the captain how teams finishing in the top six of England’s second tier over the last 10 years have had 15 clean sheets over the course of the season.
And given Warnock’s plans to lead the Bluebirds into the promised land of the Premier League, Morrison was under no illusions that his side would have to emulate the records of those who have battled it out at the top end of the table over the last decade to stand any chance of going up next year. So, are the Bluebirds on their way to achieving their target? Let’s take a closer look...