WARNOCK HEADING FOR PREM
Cardiff boss praises ‘incredible’ Morrison
NEIL WARNOCK described this Cardiff win as one of the biggest of his career.
Two goals from captain Sean Morrison fired the Bluebirds to the brink of the Premier League.
Fulham had piled on the pressure with victory over Sunderland on Friday night to go second but Morrison’s double means Cardiff ’s destiny is in their own hands.
Beat creaking Reading at the Cardiff City Stadium next Sunday and they return to the top flight after four years in the Championship.
Morrison rose to head home a Joe Ralls corner from close range after 32 minutes before wheeling away to celebrate with the ecstatic fans. His second came 10 time. Lee Peltier cha down and release Mendez-Laing, who r defence before findi unmarked to sweep t
Cardiff have wobb Fulham wiped out th lead the Bluebirds est month ago. Warnock the pressure had all be
minutes from arged the ball d Nathaniel ran at the Hull ing Morrison he ball home. bled of late as he seven-point ablished just a acknowledged een on his side and said: “It’s as big a game probably as I’ve had in my career.
“Everybody keeps expecting us to fall away and decisions have been going for Fulham left, right and centre at the minute with penalties and things like that.
“It’s hard – a lot of teams might have been demoralised.
“I woke up at four o’clock thinking of Keith Stroud, who didn’t give us two points at Millwall (the referee disallowed a Sol Bamba goal).
“I don’t know what the other lads were thinking about, so I had to get back to sleep and get on with my breakfast when it came.
“I know I say it a lot but they are just a great bunch of lads. I know we are limited and not everybody’s cup of tea but we’re not going away, are we? We’re like a rash.”
Morrison produced a true captain’s performance, leading by example and scoring the vital goals that mean he now has three in three games and seven for the season. Warnock beamed: “I said to him – he’s been speaking to the papers – I said tell them we did that in training.
“When you watch his second goal I find it incredible, he’s actually in his own six-yard box when he sets off.
“And he carries on going and I’m thinking what is he doing? We’re winning one-nil. He goes and goes and goes and goes. Incredible.”
The only dark spot was when midfielder Aron Gunnarsson limped off in the 10th minute after going over on his ankle, but also hurting his knee. The Iceland international held his head in his hands with his World Cup in doubt.
Angus MacDonald was next to leave the field early with a dislocated shoulder.
In between, Fraizer Campbell had a great chance for Hull when a ball across the box came to him unmarked, only for his shot to be blocked by Bamba.
Cardiff came close to doubling their lead in first-half injury time when Junior Hoilett’s fierce drive was beaten out by Allan McGregor, who claimed the follow-up header.
McGregor pushed away Callum Paterson’s header just after the restart, though some Cardiff hearts were in their mouths when Campbell went down in the area.
But the Bluebirds exerted ever more control before Morrison (right) scored his second goal. Hull’s defeat means they will finish 18th after a bumpy ride which saw them flirt with the drop zone.
Manager Nigel Adkins criticised his side’s passing and movement.
“I am really disappointed. But assistant manager Andy Crosby has just reminded me to remember what we came to do, to make sure we stayed in the division,” said Adkins. “We have done that. “A home win today would have been nice but I want to give Cardiff who – great credit to them – have been at the top of the division.
“They have put themselves in box position to get to the Premier League by hard graft and doing the right things.
“But looking at the big picture, we have kept ourselves in the Championship.”
I know we are limited and not everybody’s cup of tea but we’re not going away, are we?