Warnock gives up on Hayes
CARDIFF City manager Neil Warnock has confirmed he’s given up on signing Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes, adding that he’s “down the line” with two or three other players.
The Bluebirds lodged two bids for the Republic of Ireland international during the January transfer window, both of which Leicester City 0-1 Cardiff City (May 9, 2010) Jordan Davies: “Has to be Leicester away in the play-off semi-final first leg, free-kick almost thirty yards and angle against him post and in.”
He was the main man when it came to hitting the back of the net in the 2009-10 Championship season.
And Whittingham produced the goods when it mattered most once again as he bagged his 24th and penultimate goal of the campaign to seal a 1-0 win over Leicester in the first leg of the play-off semi-finals.
A host of Cardiff’s players lined up inside the penalty area to get their heads on the end of what they hoped would be another superb Whittingham delivery.
But the midfielder had other ideas as he lashed the free kick in off the were knocked back by the Dons.
It is thought the Bluebirds recently submitted a third bid – believed to be in the region of £1.2m – for the wideman.
“You can only wait for so long and you’ve got to move on,” Warnock told BBC Wales Sport .
“We’ve moved on and gone on to another one or two targets.” posts from a tight angle to give the Bluebirds the advantage in the tie ahead of the return leg at the Cardiff City Stadium. Cardiff City 2-2 Barnsley (March 13, 2011) Danny Donovan: “Volley against Barnsley!” The Bluebirds were flying high as they headed into the final quarter of the 2010/11 campaign as they looked to secure promotion into the promised land of the Premier League.
Barnsley made the 400-mile round trip to the Welsh capital on a sunny March afternoon as Cardiff looked to climb above South Wales rivals Swansea into the second and final automatic promotion spot with victory over the Tykes. And the plan got off to an incredible start as the ever-reliable Whittingham neatly controlled a dropping ball with his left foot before volleying beyond Luke Steele from 25 yards out. The match ended 2-2 and Cardiff missed the chance to go into the top two – but Whitts scored arguably the greatest of his 94 goals in his decade with the club. Cardiff City 3-1 Wolves (September 2, 2012) Hywel Evans: “His three goals against Wolves back in 2012-13. Even playing in red he is still class. What a hat-trick! #doeswhathewants.”
At long last, a memorable campaign that delivered a fairy tale ending.
The confidence from a 1-0 opening day success over Huddersfield soon disappeared as the Bluebirds were held to a goalless draw at Brighton before suffering a 4-2 Severnside derby defeat to Bristol City.
But Whittingham stole the show in the second home game of the campaign - despite seeing his side go behind to a Bacary Sako goal as early as the 10th minute.
The set-piece specialist levelled from the penalty spot only 98 seconds after Sako had put the visitors in front before giving his side the lead less than three minutes later with a strike from outside the penalty area. And Whittingham secured all three points as well as the match ball with a free kick in the 65th minute to kick start Cardiff’s campaign that saw them become champions.