Late Pilkington strike keeps Cardiff rolling
Neil Warnock’s return to his beloved Bramall Lane ended in a fairy-tale finish, as one of his Cardiff City substitutes – Anthony Pilkington – rescued a point in injury time.
Although Warnock’s Cardiff saw their eight-game winning run ended, the exuberant celebrations after the equaliser showed what this meant, as they demonstrated the fighting spirit that has muscled them into the top two. Warnock said his players looked like they had “won the World Cup” when they came into the dressing room at full-time.
It was all so hard to take for play-off chasing Sheffield United – a club that Warnock famously both supported and managed – after their impressive display.
Chris Wilder, the United manager, said afterwards that his men had been accused of being “smug” by opposition staff, “but that wasn’t our attitude”, indicating some lingering ill-feeling.
Warnock, beaming with pride when he came in to his press conference, said: “It could be the best point of the season that, in the circumstances.
“You never say never. Cloughie [Brian Clough] used to say it only takes a second to score a goal.”
Warnock also gave a reminder of old times by criticising the officials, adding: “I thought he might have booked a couple of ball boys, too.”
Ball boys aside, nothing could dampen Warnock’s mood after a timely result – with Wolves and Aston Villa being Cardiff ’s next games.
Wilder’s men had automatic promotion dreams of their own in the first half of the season – until Leon Clarke stopped scoring goals so prolifically. Perhaps it is a promising omen that the striker ended his 10-game drought here.
The problem was that Clarke’s strike was all that they had to show for their efforts. Wilder said: “We dominated a side that are heading for the Premier League.”
Warnock had not managed against United at Bramall Lane since August 2010. He was greeted on his return here by a boggy pitch after heavy snow.
On that tricky surface, it was a scrappy start. United adjusted better and deservedly went ahead. A well-worked move ended in John Lundstram supplying Clarke to score, as the striker sent an untidy 12-yard shot bobbling beyond Neil Etheridge.
A slight deflection on the way, off Cardiff’s Bruno Ecuele Manga, did not help the goalkeeper’s cause.
Cardiff carried on looking second best – but proceedings were livened up at half-time when Warnock brought on Gary Madine. The former Sheffield Wednesday striker made his presence felt on United defender Richard Stearman. “We needed him,” said Warnock. “We were a bit soft before.”
Still, United should have finished them off as the second half went on. Clayton Donaldson came close, in the 77th minute, but struck a post from eight yards. United’s Lee Evans was then brought down by Sol Bamba in the area. “I thought it was a penalty,” said Wilder.
Wilder’s men were left to rue it when Pilkington – making a rare appearance – fired home a smart volley inside the penalty area.
“By gum, we’ve got big hearts,” beamed Warnock. He had left his stamp of Yorkshire grit on Sheffield, a place close to his heart.