Zohore sends Bluebirds soaring
> Striker seals comeback victory as Cardiff extend winning streak to seven games
SEVEN WINS in a row and a seven-point cushion: Cardiff City are looking good for automatic promotion to the Premier League.
A seventh successive Championship victory for Neil Warnock’s side saw them open up a significant gap on the chasing pack as they came from behind to beat Brentford yesterday.
The last time Cardiff achieved such a feat was in 1993 and Warnock, aiming for his own return to the Premier League, has the Bluebirds believing they are on their way.
Goals from Sol Bamba, Callum Paterson and Kenneth Zohore handed them this win, leaving Dean Smith’s Brentford well adrift of the Championship’s playoff positions.
Cardiff and Wolverhampton Wanderers now occupy the top two spots quite comfortably, with nine games to go.
Those who made the 480km round trip yesterday may have feared the worst in the opening minutes. The Bees may be mid-table but they were buzzing at Griffin Park and took the lead after only five minute through Neal Maupay.
Cardiff hit back after 25 minutes when Sol Bamba struck a sweet volley on the turn after a pinball in the box.
Callum Paterson blasted the ball into the net from inside the area before the break and confirm their seventh straight victory in the second half through Zohore, leaving Brentford deflated.
When Cardiff last embarked on such a winning streak, they won the title and were promoted from the fourth tier of English football to the third.
Now, they are knocking on the door of the Premier League but veteran manager Warnock is keeping cool and even played down his team’s chances of automatic promotion despite some exuberant celebrations with the visiting fans.
“We don’t get carried away because if you do, you get kicked in the teeth in the Championship,” he said. “I am not confident of anything in this league because we have some difficult games coming up.
“All the boys are enjoying it. They know that all the pressure is on the big clubs because of the expectation on their players.
“We showed great character after going one down but that’s what (the players) are like. They are together with great spirit, and long may it continue.” – Agencies/ WalesOnline