I’ve had bigger people than Burns criticise, it doesn’t bother me, insists Warnock

NEIL Warnock has brushed off criticism from Nottingham Forest legend Kenny Burns in the wake of Cardiff City’s 2-0 win at the City Ground last weekend.

Burns took aim at Cardiff’s physical style and also launched a personal attack on Warnock himself, after Forest boss Mark Warburton had accused the Bluebirds of time-wasting.

But Warnock was unperturbed, insisting Cardiff’s performance in the East Midlands was ‘men against boys’ and accepting the criticism as purely ‘bitterness.’

His Bluebirds side have proven unpopular with away fans and managers yet sit second in the Championship ahead of Friday night’s clash with Norwich City.

“You get bitterness in the game, usually when you’ve beaten somebody,” said Warnock.

“I read some of the stuff Kenny Burns said. I remember him coming down at half-time at Bramall Lane when he was only a club ambassador or something, we were losing 2-0 or something like that to them in the playoff semi-final second leg and we ended up winning 4-3. The Warnock way, hey?

“Anybody can criticise. I look at pundits now. Kenny had a go at managing and lasted three weeks. It’s easy to criticise.

“He contradicted himself, saying surely you’d prefer to watch a team like Warburton’s who pass it and entertain and it’s free flowing, winning the last five home games.

“He’s answered his own question... do we let them have a free-flowing game and let us be the sixth team to lose?

“But listen, I’ve had bigger people than Kenny Burns criticise me over the years, so it doesn’t bother me.

“I’ve got a few friends who are Forest supporters, one of them said it was like men against boys. I think it was a good performance. Say what you want about time wasting, but their keeper was taking longer when we had the watch on him, but you can’t criticise your own keeper. I thought it was quite funny that.”

Burns also disparagingly compared Warnock to comedian Ken Dodd, to which the Cardiff boss responded with tongue very much in cheek.

“I think the lads enjoyed it, with me being called similar to Ken Dodd,” he added. “They’ll bring that up now and then. I think I’m a better comedian to be honest.”

Warnock will now concentrate his efforts on securing a fourth successive Cardiff win – and clean sheet — against mid-table Norwich.

With the Bluebirds in such rampant form, he isn’t concerned about criticism about their perceived ‘physical’ style of play.

He added: “My dad used to say to me when I was criticised as a player ‘son, it’s when you stop getting criticised that you need to worry.’”