BLUEBIRDS ARE BOOSTED BY BOTTLE OF SOL
CARDIFF manager Neil Warnock said he would not swap Sol Bamba for any other defender in English football after he struck to sink Hull.
The Bluebirds skipper scored a crucial header to seal a 1-0 victory that narrowed the gap to four points on Championship leaders Wolves.
And Warnock reckons no defender in the division can do what the Ivorian does for his promotion-chasing side.
“Bamba was a colossus and I wouldn’t swap him for anyone in the Premier League and Championship,” said Warnock.
“He’s always there or thereabouts. His presence epitomises Cardiff City and that’s why the fans love him.
“You’re bound to pick him out when you’re a supporter and the other boys all respond to him.
“(Bruno) Manga as well; he was so calm at the back, apart from when he went sprinting up the pitch at the end.
“That was our best three points in the circumstances. We just had to get over the hurdle – at this stage, the points you get on board are vital.
“It’s a team game. We had a centre-half at the far post to score and a forward clearing the ball downfield. The boys all muck in and do jobs they don’t want to do.”
Hull had early chances to break the deadlock at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Bluebirds goalkeeper Neil Etheridge spilled a Kamil Grosiki free-kick but Jon Toral failed to capitalise with a weak effort.
Another golden opportunity fell the visitors’ way moments later when Cardiff switched to let Nouha Dicko sneak behind the rearguard. The striker latched onto the throw and stabbed the ball against the post.
Lee Tomlin looked like he was going to be the man to light the touch paper for Warnock’s side when he stung the hands of Allan McGregor after linking up with Junior Hoillett down the left wing.
He was at it again after 42 minutes when he nutmegged Ola Aina and shot over as a lacklustre first half came to a close.
It was Tomlin who engineered the chance that broke the deadlock in the 57th minute. The Cardiff playmaker engineered a yard of space and sent the ball towards the six-yard box.
His cross was met by a flick from Anthony Pilkington, and captain Bamba was the first to react, heading the ball home for a 1-0 lead. Cardiff had won all 11 matches in which they had scored the first goal and they never looked like surrendering their hard-fought advantage to maintain their march towards the Premier League.
Hull, meanwhile, are languishing in 19th place after this latest defeat and manager Nigel Adkins said: “Cardiff are flying high and they’re difficult to play against.
“But we started well, and for a club who are down the bottom, we got on the front foot and caused them problems.
“I don’t think it was a free-kick leading up to their goal and Bamba was a fraction offside.
“You need those decisions to go your way but it didn’t this time. I couldn’t ask for more than what the players gave me.
“Sometimes you get the decisions and sometimes you don’t. Many teams have been rolled over here this season but we competed, which is the important message.”