I KNOW HIGHS AND LOWS OF DERBY – MAC
FORMER Cardiff City star Stephen McPhail said it took him months to get Bluebirds fans back onside after he was sent off in his first two South Wales derbies.
Neil Warnock said this week his biggest fear was one of his players ‘losing their head’ in today’s clash and ultimately costing Cardiff the game. An experience McPhail knows all too well.
The former midfielder was given his marching orders in each of his first two clashes against bitter rivals Swansea City. The first, a League Cup third-round clash in 2008, which resulted in defeat, but it is the second one, a league game just two months later, which ended in a draw that was the toughest to swallow.
He looks back now with the benefit of hindsight and concedes the red mist descended upon him after getting wrapped up in the atmosphere of it all.
And McPhail admits becoming a derby-day villain was the harshest of lessons to learn.
“The first one (in the League Cup) was just a bad decision,” McPhail said. “I thought it was a bit harsh.
“But the second one (in the league) was just that, the red mist. Getting wrapped up in the game.
“It was just frustration and trying to make the tackle, silly stuff really. I was probably a little over boiled in that one.
“It’s that raw emotion of making sure you don’t lose because of how much you want to win so much, you can sometimes get caught out making a rash decision.
“I learned from and I never did it again after that. It was a harsh lesson to learn, especially in such a big game and knowing what it means to the fans.”
At the time, Cardiff were 2-1 up at the Liberty Stadium and closing in on an historic away derby win.
The Irishman, Bluebirds captain at the time, gratuitously kicked the ball away and picked up his second yellow of the match, which ultimately proved the turning point in the match.
Gorka Pintado subsequently netted the all-important equaliser and it felt like a hammer blow, then Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said McPhail’s red card actually cost City the win.
The aftermath of that red card was felt deeply by McPhail, who has warned the consequences extend far further than the immediate three points. He says he had to earn back the trust of the Cardiff City faithful.
“I definitely felt like I let everyone down,” the Irishman continued. “It was 2-1 at the time and we ended up not winning the game.
“I definitely took the blame for that and the manager was right. He had a go at me after and that was fine.
“It took maybe two or three months to win people back over again.
“No one wants to be on the receiving end of that defeat against your rivals and I made it hard for my teammates getting sent off.
“But I took it on the chin. I kept my head down, didn’t speak to the media and just tried to work hard again to get people back onside.
“Luckily enough, I did, but it was a couple of months later.”
Of course, it wasn’t all bad. McPhail was part of the side that day Michael Chopra hammered home that 92ndminute winner.
The contrast in emotions that day compared to two years previous was stark.
McPhail says the euphoria he felt that day in 2010 ranks near the top of his greatest footballing memories.
“I’ve had a couple of down times in derbies,” he says, “but on the flip side, when Chopra scored that goal it was unbelievable.
“Anyone that was in the stadium will never forget it.
“It’s hard to describe the feeling of joy and elation and relief that we beat them. The manner of it as well, last minute, it’s hard to put it into words, the emotions of that day.
“It’s right up there with one of the best games I’ve been involved with.”
McPhail has certainly experienced the extreme ends of the spectrum when it comes to derby day. The very highest of highs and the lowest of lows.
He has played in big derbies, Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United as well as Leeds United against Manchester United, but he says the South Wales derby is right up there with those huge clashes.
The former midfielder feels close ties to the city of Cardiff, having played and live there for seven years and his children having been born there.
He knows how much it means to the people of the city to earn that derby win and how much the players are lauded and villainised for their performances.
“Play the game for what it is, but make sure you win. Those last four words are crucial.,” he said.
“It’s so important they realise what this game is for everyone in the city. I’ve been there, I’ve felt it, but they need to understand how much it means to everyone else outside that dressing room.”