Bluebirds soar when Zohore scores PROUD WARNOCK: MY LADS WOULD DIE FOR ME
CARDIFF left it late at Norwich as they delivered the perfect pick-me-up for Neil Warnock.
The veteran Bluebirds boss saw his side score twice in the final few minutes to stay firmly in the automatic promotion race.
Warnock said: “I was deflated after our last two games, defeats by Wolves and Aston Villa. But I’m absolutely delighted now and it’s probably our best result of the season.
“It’s not good for my heart and I thought it would finish 0-0. But I’ve got a great group of lads who would die for me and I’m so proud of them. They always keep going.”
Kenneth Zohore fired Cardiff in front with three minutes left, from a ridiculously tight angle after keeper Angus Gunn had saved
Junior Hoilett wrapped up the win in stoppage time with a beautifully struck volley from the edge of the box, his 12th goal of the season.
It completed Cardiff ’s first league double over the Canaries and more importantly, kept them in the mix with Fulham and Villa for that second spot behind Wolves.
The only bad news was an injury to centre back Sol Bamba but Warnock said: “He has had it all season but he will probably be OK for out next game.”
Norwich almost took advantage of Bamba’s injury with Dennis Srbeny flicking Moritz Leitner’s near post corner against the foot of a post.
The same pair then combined again in first half stoppage time, with Leitner cutting the ball back for Srbeny only for his instant Possession 67% 33% Shots On Target 4 6 Shots Off Target 7 5 Blocked Shots 6 4 Corners 10 6 Fouls Conceded 8 23 Offsides 1 0 Yellow Cards 1 2 Red Cards 0 0 shot to be brilliantly blocked by Cardiff skipper Sean Morrison.
Warnock admitted: “We started sluggishly and Norwich had us hanging on at times although we defended well.”
Cardiff were generally in control though with Craig Bryson, the dangerous Hoilett and Bamba’s replacement, Bruno Manga, all going close.
But it was all huff and puff and Warnock’s men seemed to have blown their big chance when Zohore slid Hoilett’s cross wide 10 minutes from time.
But the late goals settled it and Canaries coach Daniel Farke groaned: “It’s really tough to take. At times we seemed to be the only team trying to win.”