Warnock is defiant

Reading v Cardiff City Today, 12pm

NEIL WARNOCK is dug in for more flak over Cardiff City’s style this season – but the old soldier from football’s trenches will not be waving a white flag.

The Bluebirds manager (above) takes his team to Reading with critics already taking aim at their direct approach after just two matches.

Luton manager Graeme Jones was sniffy in defeat last week and former Cardiff and Wales striker Nathan Blake has already claimed their game-plan back in the Championship is “Warnockball on steroids.”

But Warnock will not be changing battlefield tactics any time soon and says: “People are getting carried away. We attack as much as we can and we are entertaining.

“If you class keeping the ball in your own half as football, then that’s not my game. I don’t see the point of doing that. I don’t understand that 20 or 30 passes stuff in your own half. If that’s what people want then I’m not the right manager. We have exciting and skilful players who like going forward. We play a lot more football than people give us credit for.”

Warnock signed 6ft 6in centre-back Aden Flint in the transfer window, along with 6ft 3in German striker Robert Glatzel and combative midfielder Marlon Pack. But Bobby Reid — 5ft 7in and skillful, if sometimes brittle — was allowed to leave for Fulham on loan.

Cardiff could be without midfielder Joe Ralls due to a stomach bug, while winger Nathaniel Mendez-laing is struggling with a hamstring strain.

Reading — who have begun with two defeats, compared to one loss and one win for Cardiff — are likely to recall fullback Andy Yiadom and continue with new signings, £8m striker George Puscas and midfielder ‘Pele’.

“Who’d have thought we’d be playing against Puscas and Pele in the Championship?” said Warnock.