Warnock blows up over ref’s whistle

JUNIOR HOILETT gave Cardiff the perfect start with his 10th goal of the season but Neil Warnock’s side missed out on the chance to draw level on points with second-placed Derby.

Hoilett struck after just three minutes but Lee Gregory levelled for Millwall – and Warnock was left frustrated when referee Keith Stroud ruled out a potential winner by Sol Bamba for a foul on Cardiff full-back Joe Bennett seconds earlier.

The Cardiff boss clearly thought that the advantage should have been played and was left fuming when his side failed to convert the resulting free-kick.

Millwall manager Neil Harris had demanded a response from his side after their midweek exit from the FA Cup at the hands of League One Rochdale. But the manager’s message did not appear to have sunk in after a disastrous start that left the home side trailing after just three minutes.

To make matters worse for Harris – who started returning old-boy Tim Cahill on the bench – the Lions had only themselves to blame with Mahlon Romeo losing possession in his own half, allowing Hoilett to advance.

Romeo had already been booked for a foul on the Cardiff winger and he was unable to recover his error as Hoilett sped away before beating keeper Jordan Archer with a shot from the edge of the area for his 10th goal of the season. Harris’s players then established a foothold in the game with Steve Morison unfortunate to see a shot deflect off the bar after controlling Ben Marshall’s cross on his chest.

The leveller came in the 40th minute when Jed Wallace found space on the right hand flank to pull the ball back for Gregory, above, who beat Neil Etheridge with a firsttime shot from 15 yards.

Having got back on level terms, the Lions looked the side most likely to find a winning goal during the second half. Marshall, who arrived from Wolves on deadline day, forced an excellent save from Etheridge with a deflected shot.

Cahill came off the bench in the 90th minute, replacing goalscorer Gregory, but too late to alter the course of the game.