5 0 WARNOCK EARNS THE SOUND OF APPROVAL

IF Cardiff City’s hierarchy were in any doubt before, then they only had to close their eyes and listen at the final whistle. Never mind the statistics, as impressive as they are, or the scoreline which provided the Bluebirds with their biggest margin of victory for more than seven years.

Because what Neil Warnock is bringing to the club is something numbers can’t do justice to, even if it shows such an incredible turnaround that this relegation-haunted Rotherham side could only wish was theirs once more.

The 68-year-old’s name was sung louder than ever before as Cardiff fans savoured a result impressive on its own before considering some of the quality of the goals that earned it.

They sense something happening under Warnock, something building, something stirring, far beyond an afternoon where a struggling Rotherham side were swatted away with brutal ruthlessness.

In truth, even accounting for the visitors’ injury and other selection problems, this game may well say a little more about Rotherham’s woes than Cardiff’s quality.

But it is part of something bigger as Cardiff have found a connection between fan and player that all flows through the manager.

As the discussions over plans for the future continue, the club’s hierarchy can no longer be in any doubt of what the fans feel.

Of course, many will say give him what he wants, likely to include a budget bigger than might sit comfortably with those counting the costs with Premier League parachute money running out. He has a track record that probably demands a bigger wage than others out there, too.

But this is what you get. You get a fanbase who can identify with the effort and demands for commitment, you get a team who work for each other and are crystal clear in their understanding of what is expected of them. You get results that are a match for anyone over the past few months.

And, while there is an element of getting what you see from this Ronseal manager, you can’t paint over the facts that it earns results in this division.

Besides, Cardiff have seen their fair share of organised, functional football without the added excitement Warnock brings and the best he is bringing out of players who, ultimately, have the quality in them that just wasn’t being seen.

Players look reborn, showing confidence, courage and honesty about their games not seen in a long time. Fans are seeing it. That’s what you get.

Kadeem Harris grabbed his third Cardiff goal of the week when he curled in the 11th-minute opener before Junior Hoilett coolly finished for the game’s second in first-half injury time after a poor back-pass.

It was a nothing first half, but this was supposed to be a game that they would have to scrap it out in. Pundits predicted as much, fans were talking about gladly taking a 1-0 win before kick-off and even Warnock had cited this as being their toughest test of a week containing games at Leeds and Derby.

Warnock – even at 2-0 – told his players as much and got a response, just as he has had a response from Craig Noone, who he seems to have placed the proverbial rocket under in recent week. Cue fireworks from the winger, exploding a volley onto Harris’ floated cross.

Then there is Zohore, the Danish enigma who looked set to be added to the long list of transfer flops at this club not so long ago. He lashed home the game’s fourth and then lofted home the fifth, reward for another bustling performance that is, Warnock says, a result of “listening to what I tell him.” That’s what you get with Warnock.

Cue the chants of his name, from the visiting end too with Rotherham fans still appreciative of how he saved the Millers last term. Warnock joked that he has had his name sung from all four corners of a ground before, but normally in abuse rather than in adulation.

But that’s what Warnock got here, with beaten boss – and former colleague – Paul Warne saying: “He wants another promotion and the team play a style that collects points. The fans are behind him and if he has the full support of everybody – with the owners the most important – he knows more than anyone on the planet how to get out of the Championship.”

If the club’s hierarchy didn’t know beforehand, they just had to listen at the final whistle to realise it.

Rhys Healey’s season has been left in tatters with Neil Warnock fearing Cardiff City’s rookie striker is facing at least nine months out after a double knee ligament injury.

Healey went down in agony after his studs appeared to catch in the turf after a surge into the Rotherham box in an innocuous-looking incident.

Warnock will now wait for details of a scan on Monday to see the full extent of the damage to the former Newport County loan star’s left knee.

But he said initial prognosis suggested the 22-year-old had damaged both the cruciate and anterior ligaments, meaning it could be “at least” a nine-month recovery.

Warnock said: “Even with the result, Rhys’ injury soured everything because we think he’s done both ligaments. He’s gone for another scan but it would be a major blow. He’s done so well for us, given us a new lease of life with that goal against Burton and winning the penalty the other night and it’s so disappointing.”