Sabri’s strugglers get ‘tired’ excuse

CARDIFF boss Sabri Lamouchi admitted his team are “tired” – just as the battle to avoid the drop is reaching its climax.

The Bluebirds are just three points clear of the Championship relegation zone with three games to play after this lacklustre draw against the Potters.

Guinean striker Sory Kaba saw Jack Bonham save his second-half penalty after earlier equalising Josh Laurent’s headed opener for Stoke.

Lamouchi said: “A point is better than nothing, I am happy, but maybe we deserved three points.

“We didn’t see a lot of energy from both teams. We are all tired – playing six games in three weeks is too much.”

Lamouchi refused to blame Kaba’s penalty miss for the failure to claim what would have been a priceless victory.

“It’s part of football,” said the Frenchman.

“He scored an important goal and I was happy with his performance.”

Stoke manager Alex Neil says he is already looking towards next season.

The former Sunderland boss said: “There wasn’t much in it but we ground out a point which was fair.

“I will use the games left to see what I’m going to do in the summer, to see who wants to be part of it next season, who has the appetite.”

Neil praised the Stoke supporters who, despite a mediocre season, roared on their side throughout.

“Away from home we’ve put some really good performances together but we simply haven’t done well enough at home,” he said.

“The fans have been brilliant. We’re hopeful we can give them something to shout about next season.”

CARDIFF: Allsop 6 (Alnwick (67) 6); Romeo 6, Ng 6, Kipre 6, Mcguinness 7, O’dowda 7; Wintle 8, Ralls 5 (Philogene (59) 7), Sawyers 5; Etete 5 (Harris (59) 5), Kaba 7 STOKE: Bonham 8; Fox 6, Taylor 5, Jagielka 6; Tymon 6, Hoever 5 (Sterling (66) 5), Smallbone 7, Pearson 6, Laurent 7 (Baker (84) 5); Campbell 6, Gayle 4 (Powell (74) 5) STAR MAN: Ryan Wintle – Covered every blade of grass for Cardiff while his team-mates were a little lacklustre. REF: Andy Davies 7