WARNOCK SLAMS KANE
Poch admits his side are poor ... after Warnock blows his top
CARDIFF boss Neil Warnock blasted Spurs striker Harry Kane for his part in getting Joe Ralls sent off.
Ralls went for a 58th-minute foul on Lucas Moura and, while referee Mike Dean was still deciding, Kane (left) led a posse of Spurs players in protest.
Warnock said: “Joe got sent off by group decision. The ref should have had ear plugs. Disappointed in Kane. An England player.”
TOTTENHAM banished the blues of being battered by Lionel Messi and Barcelona in midweek to move into third place in the Premier League.
Spurs deserved to win a scrappy game, but there are still more questions than answers.
Yes, they were without Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, but clubs who are aiming for true stardom should have more stellar names in reserve.
Cardiff arrived without a league win and, to add to their woes, had Joe Ralls sent off in the 58th minute.
It was for a foul on Lucas Moura, which led to striker Harry Kane being booked for verbals and a clash with Bluebirds boss Neil Warnock.
Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said: “I saw Neil angry, particularly about the decision and Kane. But he has passion and he wants the best for his club.
“This wasn’t our best performance. But, overall, we deserved victory and three points and we are now in a good position in the table.
“This was always going to be difficult after Barcelona – we can play better. The atmosphere was a bit empty, the weather did not help, but I am always happy with our fans.
“After we scored, we had a lack of control. It turned into a drama and, when Cardiff had one man less, it became more of a drama.
“But when you are at home, you must control the game.
Warnock (right) admitted: “Everyone gets angry, whether five-or-side or whatever. I was proud today. We could have gone under when we went down to an early goal.
“I thought the sending-off decision was hard. In the end, it was a group decision and I’m
disappointed by the linesman. Not often do you see Tottenham playing into the corner in the last few minutes.
“You need a bit of luck and, hopefully, we should have that soon.”
Cardiff battled and often made fools of the opposition.
But it all started so well for Spurs when they took an eighth-minute lead.
Kieran Trippier launched one of his trademark crosses from the left, Davinson Sanchez bravely went in to meet it, the ball dropping down and, as it stuck under the feet of Joe Bennett, Eric Dier fired home from close range. Dier then became a hero at the other end when he threw himself at Junior Hoilett’s feet to block his shot after Josh Murphy exposed Tottenham’s defensive fralities in the 29th minute. Cardiff made it hard for a Spurs side nowhere near their best, not sure of their best formation and with several star players out through injury or fatigue. The Bluebirds fought hard, but were also lucky to survive a 43rd-minute scare when Son Heung-min wove his way to the byline from the flank, then crossed, only for Moura to shoot wide from just four yards.
Cardiff survived and brilliantly denied Spurs adding to ther lead just seconds into the second half.
Kane’s header from Danny Rose’s cross was superbly saved by Neil Etheridge only for Moura’s follow-up to be blocked on the line by Sean Morrison.
Cardiff rightfully lost Ralls for his cynical 58th minute foul on Moura. Referee Mike Dean had no choice but to show the red card, though why Kane decided to get involved was a mystery.
Warnock was also given a verbal warning when he really should have kept his peace, but that is not always easy for a manager often accused of possessing a loose tongue.
The Bluesbirds almost equalised when Tottenham keeper Hugo Lloris pushed a Morrison header on to a post from Josh Murphy’s 64th-minute free-kick.
But this was never going to be a game for the connoisseur – nor particularly worthy of gracing the national stadium.