REVEL YELL! WARNOCK CALLS FOR PARTY ATMOSPHERE AT HUGE BLUEBIRDS MATCH
Neil Warnock has condemned the language used by Sean Morrison in a video that was leaked to social media, showing Cardiff City captain launching a verbal attack on Derby County players.
And the Cardiff boss revealed he had spoken to his skipper, but revealed the context to the foulmouthed video was just private banter between the two sets of players.
Morrison is seen calling out Derby stars Richard Keogh and Alex Pearce, but Warnock said videos had been shared between the two sets of players on Snapchat after they’d enjoyed a drink together – following the Pride Park postponement last month.
“Whilst I don’t condone the language and it leaves a lot to be desired, our lads have videos of them as well,” said Warnock.
“After the game, our lads were in an airport, having a drink in a social place and both parties were there.
“Bradley Johnson with (Anthony) Pilkington who had played at Norwich, Pearce and Morrison who had played at Reading and it was just a lot of banter between themselves.
“When you first hear about that, you think ‘oh no’, but when you see the videos our lads have got – which we’re not prepared to release – it’s just banter really and a lot of hot air, it just makes it more mouth watering when we play them in a couple of weeks.”
The postponement at Derby had caused lots of controversy on social media, with Greg Halford tweeting a picture and Morrison heard saying “you’re scared of playing us”.
But Warnock had a warning to his players about the dangers of social media, with the Morrison furore overshadowing the biggest game of the Bluebirds’ season coming up against Wolves on Friday night.
He is ‘disappointed’ with his captain, having spoken to him privately, and revealed his wife Sharon had condemned the language used.
“He was apologetic, he said ‘these things are said between pals, we’ve known each other for many years’, “ added Warnock on his chat with Morrison.
“I’ve seen the (video) they sent us there’d be more headlines in that if we let that go out!
“I’m not on social media, I don’t even know how to switch one on! I don’t understand it but it was in good banter and it was two weeks ago.
“I don’t want us to get our own back… let’s move on.
“Social media is a dangerous thing and they’ve got to be warned about that.
“It may be just a flippant comment but nothing is sacred these days, it frightens me to death just answering the phone!
“I’ve had a chat with him and told him I’m disappointed in him. Even if it was in jest between mates, you can’t condone that sort of language and I think he understands that.
“Let that be a warning to everyone, you’ve got to be careful. It’s dangerous.
“It’s only gone on their Snapchat and things but it only takes one in the group to put it out.
“I’ve told Morrison I don’t want any of the Derby videos going out.
“We’ve all had a laugh and done it but my wife wasn’t happy with the language when I showed her that.
“They’re two high spirited teams with a lot of rivalry and a lot of friendship but alcohol is a funny thing, isn’t it?” CARDIFF City are anticipating a crowd that touches 30,000 for their title deciding clash against Wolves, as tickets continue to fly off the shelves for tonight’s showdown.
Although more than 32,000 watched the 2-0 FA Cup defeat to Manchester City earlier this season, the crowd for Wolves looks set to eclipse any other league crowd at Cardiff City Stadium.
With Wolves bringing 3,000 of their own supporters, the club are hopeful that the number can hit 30,000 for the first time in Bluebirds’ league history at CCS. As of Thursday 27,500 tickets had been sold.
Cardiff could record the biggest crowd for any league game staged in Wales for 42 years, eclipsing anything else since the 1976 game against Hereford at Ninian Park when more than 35,000 attended.
These are the 10 previous largest gates the Bluebirds have had since 2009 when they moved to their current home...
10 Bolton Wanderers - 26,418 (Championship, April 27, 2013)
CRAIG Noone cancelled out Chris Eagles’ first half opener for the Trotters as the Bluebirds celebrated promotion into the Premier League in their final home match of the 2012-13 campaign.
9 BLACKPOOL - 26,537 (Championship, April 25, 2015)
JOE Mason’s opener along with a brace of penalties from Eoin Doyle ensured Russell Slade’s side clinched a 3-2 win over Blackpool in the last of their home matches in Cardiff’s first season back in England’s second tier.
8 NOTTINGHAM Forest - 26,588 (Championship, April 13, 2013)
RUDY Gestede struck twice in six minutes to add to Heidar Helguson’s first half opener as the Bluebirds moved on the brink of securing promotion with a comfortable 3-0 win against 10-man Forest.
7 LEEDS - 27,160 (Championship, September 26, 2017)
THE Bluebirds sent out a real statement to the rest of the Championship in-front of the Sky cameras as they blew away Leeds United, with Kenneth Zohore bagging a brace while Junior Hoilett also struck from distance as Cardiff beat Thomas Christiansen’s side 3-1.
6 QUEENS Park Rangers - 27,874 (Championship, April 16, 2016)
CARDIFF’S chances of reaching the playoffs took a huge hit as they were held to a goalless draw by QPR, then managed by ex-Bluebird Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
5 ARSENAL - 27,948 (Premier League, November 30, 2013)
AARON Ramsey was the star of the show as he netted twice against his former club – with Mathieu Flamini also scoring – as Arsene Wenger’s men cruised to a 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital.
4 MAN United - 28,016 (Premier League, November 24, 2013)
THE Bluebirds twice came from behind thanks to Fraizer Campbell’s first half effort and Kim Bo-Kyung’s injury time leveller to earn a 2-2 draw against David Moyes’ side who took the lead on two occasions through Wayne Rooney and Patrice Evra.
3 LIVERPOOL - 28,018 (Premier League, March 22, 2014) LUIS Suarez ran riot by scoring a hat-trick in an enthralling affair that saw the Reds leave South Wales with all three points after a 6-3 win against the Bluebirds. The hosts actually led twice through Jordon Mutch and then Fraizer Campbell, but the class of Brendan Rodgers’ side eventually told.
2. Derby County - 28,680 (Championship, April 2, 2016)
GOALS from Bruno Manga and Stuart O’Keefe either side of Chris Martin’s effort ensured the Bluebirds kept their hopes of reaching the playoffs alive with a 2-1 win over Derby, although Cardiff went on to win just once more in their final seven matches as they ended the campaign in eighth spot.
1. Man City - 32,339 (FA Cup, January 28, 2018)
A RECORD crowd flocked to the Welsh capital, although goals from Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling proved enough for Pep Guardiola’s side who ran out comfortable winners in the FA Cup fourth round earlier this season.