Morrison injury not as bad as boss feared... it’ll be days, not weeks
Cardiff City vs Bristol City – Championship Where: When: Cardiff City Stadium Kick off is 12pm on Sunday, 25th February Team news Cardiff: Jazz Richards, Armand Traore, Aaron Gunnarsson and Lee Peltier will all miss out. Callum Paterson is a doubt with a bruised ankle and Joe Bennett will return to training before the match after overcoming a stomach bug. Craig Bryson and Gary Madine came out of the Ipswich game on Wednesday without incident and will be in contention. Sean Morrison, who limped off before half-time at Portman Road, won’t be out for as long as first thought. Neil Warnock said the Cardiff skipper will be out for “days, not weeks” and has an outside chance making the team on Sunday. Bristol City: Marlon Pack faces the second game of a two match ban after he accumulated ten yellow cards this season last week. Hordur Magnusson is an injury doubt and will face a late fitness test. Matty Taylor, Callum O’Dowda, Jens Hegeler and Gary O’Neil will all miss out. Milan Drujic and Eros Pisano are fit. What the managers said Neil Warnock (Cardiff ) “I’ll be very surprised if they [Bristol City] don’t play long ball on Sunday, the last two times we’ve played them, they’ve been the long ball merchants...You know, Lee (Johnson) is like his dad. He talks a good game and I don’t listen to much he says. I’m sure it will be a decent atmosphere, we’ll try and do our best for him.” Lee Johnson (Bristol) “It’s an interesting game that we want to win and a local derby and the players know the importance of it. And we want to make sure we make the fans happy...I’ll be honest with you I’m not sure the atmosphere is that intimidating at Cardiff and when I’ve been there a couple of times there’s quite a few empty seats. And that’s surprising given the season they’ve had.” Predicted Line-ups Cardiff City: Etheridge, Bennett, Manga, Bamba, Connolly, Ralls, Grujic, Damour, Hoilett, Mendez-Laing, Zohore. Bristol City: Fielding, Wright, Flint, Baker, Bryan, Kent, Brownhill, Smith, Paterson, Diedhiou, Reid. Betting odds (Paddy Power) Cardiff City Win – EVS; Draw 9/4; Bristol City Win13/5 Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancs) NEIL Warnock has allayed fears that captain Sean Morrison could be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following his withdrawal during Cardiff City’s 1-0 win over Ipswich Town.
The Bluebirds were given an almighty scare on Wednesday evening when the skipper limped off with a groin injury in the 40th minute of the game against Mick McCarthy’s side.
The skipper missed almost a month with a groin injury over Christmas and in his absence, Cardiff managed just one league win in five games.
And there was real cause for concern in midweek despite Cardiff marching on to victory without the 27-year-old.
But Warnock revealed the injury isn’t as bad as first feared, adding that Morrison could even feature tomorrow when the Bluebirds host Bristol City in the Severnside derby.
“It’s not as bad as I thought it would be,” said Warnock.
“I thought that knowing our luck it would be six or seven weeks. The scan didn’t show anything, it’s a grade one so it’s a matter of days rather than weeks. It’s probably too soon for Sunday but I wouldn’t write him off, knowing him. He was walking better yesterday, and I think the scan results helped him as well.”
The Bluebirds also had to plough on without any natural full-backs against Ipswich after losing Armand Traore and Joe Bennett in ‘a nightmare 48 hours’. But while Traore looks set to remain sidelined, there is some good news for Bennett.
“Traore will be struggling, he has a little bit of a thigh problem,” added the Cardiff boss.
“Joe Bennett had sickness and I’m expecting him to train, if not today then tomorrow. He’s a lot better and we’ve managed to restrict that.
“I think there’s only one lad has developed symptoms which isn’t too bad so that’s why I sent him home from Ipswich, to keep him away from the lads.”
That’s not the last of Warnock’s worries either. He could well be without inform Scotsman Callum Paterson, who also missed the trip to Ipswich.
But the Bluebirds’ faithful will be pleased to discover that the injury isn’t one of real concern.
“Paterson isn’t training yet,” revealed Warnock.
“I don’t know if he’ll be okay for Sunday or not.
“He will definitely be okay for Brentford, I think.
“It’s not a serious thing, the bruising’s just come out and It’s just a matter of pain threshold for him, nothing serious, it’s his ankle. I don’t know about that until tomorrow.”
Emergency ward 10, as Warnock labelled his team’s injury situation, is starting to look a little busier and at the worst possible time as Cardiff continue their resurgence from a disastrous winter period.
However, there is some good news with Gary Madine and Craig Bryson coming through substitute appearances against Ipswich without any relapses.
And long-term absentee Aron Gunnarsson is taking his first steps towards recovery ahead of his scheduled return in April, though Lee Peltier replaces him in the treatment room.
“Gunnarsson was training on the grass yesterday,” revealed the veteran boss.
“We’re pleased with his progress, which is another plus. Bryson has reported no after effects, neither has Gary Madine. They’re getting on alright. Peltier is out for a month, a minimum of a month.”