HOILETT BRACE SETS UP WARNOCK v GUARDIOLA
NEIL WARNOCK will pit his wits against ‘the best team in the world’ after Cardiff City saw off spirited Mansfield Town in their FA Cup replay. Cardiff’s victory, in front of a watching Pep Guardiola, sets up a January 28 home clash with Manchester City. And Warnock said: ‘Listen, they’re probably the best in the world at the moment, it’s great.’ Warnock may invest in an expensive bottle of wine for the occasion, but will not be sharing it. ‘I’ll be drinking it myself,’ added the Yorkshireman. Mansfield battled hard last night and went in level at the break when striker Danny Rose cancelled out Cardiff defender Bruno Ecuele Manga’s opener. But the Championship promotion chasers upped the tempo after the interval as a brace from Junior Hoilett and an Anthony Pilkington strike settled the tie. But Cardiff owner Vincent Tan will not be welcome for the big match against Guardiola, who was sitting alongside Cardiff CEO Carolyn Radford last night. Warnock explained: ‘I think the fans deserve the tie and everyone else such as Vincent because they’ve put a lot into this season so they deserve their reward. ‘But I hope he won’t be there because we’ve lost the last three games that he’s been there — so we’ve banned him and we’ve done well!’ League Two Mansfield more than matched their opponents in a physical first half. And furious Mansfield boss Steve Evans believed it would have been a different story had two-goal Hoilett not escaped a red card for a poor challenge. ‘How they have not had a red card is beyond me,’ he said. ‘The ref was shocking. If that’s not a red, I’m giving the game up. My players have been great, the officials have been rubbish. ‘We wish Cardiff well, it will be a great day. There won’t be a challenge like that against Man City. It was a game changer.’ Visiting fans who made the long journey over the border did not care following their side’s second-half blitz. ‘Manchester City, we’re coming for you,’ they sang. Warnock will have his team fired up, for sure.