Warnock dismissal stirs Cardiff revival

A stoppage-time equaliser from Lee Tomlin preserved Cardiff ’s unbeaten run and moved them four points off Wolves at the top of the Championship.

The 1,383 travelling fans were rewarded for braving treacherous conditions as they came from two goals down in a tense finale after Neil Warnock had been sent to the stands with 10 minutes left. “I was running around a little room on my own, celebrating,” laughed the Cardiff manager, who claimed referee Stephen Martin “enjoyed sending me off because it was his big night”.

“Their guy said ‘we’ll take you up to the director’s box’ and I said ‘are you joking? I’m not going anywhere near their fans, it’s Reading’.”

Cardiff looked beaten at halftime after an own goal from Callum Paterson and a Mo Barrrow strike put Jaap Stam’s side in charge.

The Cardiff bench were growing frustrated and none more so than Warnock, who was sent to the stands as he continued to harangue the fourth official. But after Joe Bennett smashed in a left-footed volley, Reading struggled to cope. “Very frustrating,” said Stam. “We should have scored that third goal.”

Cardiff were finding things tough in the first half and lost captain Sean Morrison to injury but, after Warnock was dismissed, his players rediscovered their recent form.

After Bennett’s goal, Cardiff continued to push as the board went up for five additional minutes. Sol Bamba headed against the crossbar and, when it dropped to Tomlin, he, too, struck the bar but the ball had crossed the line as it bounced down, giving the visitors some much-needed warmth.

Reading

Cardiff City

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