Warnock sinks former club Blades as Cardiff hit top gear
CARDIFF CITY created club history as this victory over Sheffield United kept them top of the Sky Bet Championship.
The Bluebirds had never started a campaign with three league wins in their 118-year history.
But that odd statistic was consigned to history as Sean Morrison and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing put the gloss on a performance that suggests Cardiff are credible promotion contenders this season.
United were game opponents after beating Brentford and losing in controversial circumstances at Middlesbrough on their return to the Championship.
But the Blades were often cut apart by Cardiff ’s attacking verve and the only issue that will concern Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock is that his side did not win by more.
Lee Tomlin fired wide, Jazz Richards hit the crossbar, while United’s Billy Sharp responded by firing into the side netting.
Morrison met Joe Ralls’ corner a minute before the break with a thumping header. The interval did not disrupt Cardiff’s rhythm and Jamal Blackman stopped Kenneth Zohore from adding a third before Tomlin blazed over the rebound. Zohore sent another effort just wide but Cardiff had breathing space after 55 minutes.
Bruno Manga found MendezLaing and the winger dragged the ball back on to his right foot to deliver a ferocious shot for his fourth goal in as many games.
Neil Etheridge made late saves from David Brooks and Chris Basham, but Cardiff ’s margin of victory did not flatter them. BRITT ASSOMBALONGA began the job of repaying his price tag with the first goals of his Middlesbrough career in a 2-0 Sky Bet Championship win over 10-man Burton.
Assombalonga arrived as Boro’s record transfer recruit for £15m from Nottingham Forest this summer, and quickly set about ingratiating himself to the Riverside faithful against an overmatched Albion side, as he netted either side of half-time.
A bad night was compounded with 12 minutes remaining when substitute Hope Akpan was sent off for a two-footed lunge on Lewis Baker.
The visitors were architects of their own downfall as Assombalonga netted in the 23rd minute. Kyle McFadzean was caught on the ball by Gestede, who freed the forward to slide home from a tight angle.
It should have been 2-0 moments later, Patrick Bamford heading Adam Forshaw’s delicious centre wide with the goal gaping.