CARDIFF PROVING THERE IS MORE TO WARNOCK THAN KICK AND RUSH
KEEPING Cardiff in the Premier League would be Neil Warnock’s biggest achievement yet. That’s not an observation, it comes from Warnock himself. His side were labelled anti-football merchants last season as they routinely used brute force and direct play rather than skill to gain promotion. Warnock has never denied the suggestion that his side didn’t play ‘football’. He did a job, as the saying goes. Away to Bournemouth on the opening weekend it appeared nothing had changed. Cardiff’s passing accuracy averaged 61 per cent, the lowest of any side in the top flight, and they played the most long balls. Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez said he had prepared for a ‘very physical’ and ‘direct’ approach from Cardiff but what he encountered was very different as Warnock changed tack. First starts for Harry Arter and Victor Camarasa, in a midfield three with Joe Ralls, shifted the focus to a shorter, more precise passing style which resulted in Cardiff recording a pass success rate of nearly 65 per cent. Warnock said Arter and
Camarasa, on loan from Bournemouth and Real Betis respectively, ‘make us play more and that’s what we need, we want to play and entertain and give you people (the media) a bit more to write about’. They did, but the more pressing issue is how his side failed to capitalise on having an extra player after Isaac Hayden was sent off for a reckless challenge on Josh Murphy. Only one shot on target from striker Kenneth Zohore was concerning and you wonder where the goals will come from if they are to avoid relegation. ‘Everyone is going to write Cardiff off this year and that’s up to them,’ said Arter, who admitted they had to do better in a ‘10 v 11 scenario’. Arter’s side almost threw away a valuable point when Newcastle were awarded a penalty in the dying seconds after Sean Morrison handled Yoshinori Muto’s cross, but Kenedy’s tame spot kick was saved by Neil Etheridge. ‘Poetic justice,’ said Warnock, believing Kenedy was lucky to still be on the pitch after he kicked out at Camarasa in the first half. The Chelsea loanee, much hyped after his spell with Newcastle last season, was poor. He failed to complete a single pass in the first half — the first time any player in the Premier League has managed that since former Blackburn striker Nikola Kalinic in 2010. ‘It’s a time for him to stay focused,’ said Benitez. It would have been an undeserved three points for Newcastle had Kenedy found the back of the net. ‘We know we have to improve things,’ admitted Benitez. ‘We have to work hard and then the quality we have must make the difference. It is the beginning of the season, so it’s more difficult. We have to reach the standards of last season, because everyone has spent a lot of money and it’s a new competition.’ CARDIFF (4-3-3): Etheridge 7; Manga 6.5, Morrison 7, Bamba 7, Bennett 7; Ralls 7, ARTER 7.5, Camarasa 7 (Reid 76min); Murphy 7 (Mendez-Laing 78), Zohore 6, Hoilett 7 (Paterson 83). Subs not used: Smithies, Richards, Cunningham, Madine. Booked: Camarasa, Arter, Morrison. Manager: Neil Warnock 7. NEWCASTLE (4-4-1-1): Dubravka 6; Manquillo 5 (Hayden 46, 3), Lascelles 6, Clark 6, Dummett 6; Ritchie 6 (Murphy 70, 6), Shelvey 6, Diame 6, Kenedy 5; Perez 5.5 (Muto 65, 6); Joselu 5.5. Subs not used: Darlow, Sung-yueng, Rondon, Fernandez. Booked: Ritchie, Manquillo. Sent off: Hayden. Manager: Rafa Benitez 6. Referee: Craig Pawson 5. Attendance: 30,720.