Three-point target, but it’s not a must-win – Warnock
CARDIFF City manager Neil Warnock says today’s bottom-of-thetable Premier League clash with Huddersfiled is not a must-win for the Bluebirds, but he knows the importance of three points.
Warnock’s side are eight points better off than bottom-placed Huddersfield and Terriers manager David Wagner has described it as a “mustwin” game from his perspective.
“I don’t think it’s the same for us as them, but I understand his sentiments,” Warnock said ahead of the Cardiff City Stadium showdown.
“When you play teams in the bottom half of the table, they are all must-win games really.
“This one is no different. What they have done in the last three years has been phenomenal and we are trying to do that.
“It (Huddersfield staying up) was an amazing achievement. I thought Wagner should have had manager of the year.
“Unless you’re involved in a club like that you can’t really describe what it’s like. Dean Hoyle’s a super chairman.
“He’s backed his manager, which is great. You can see how disappointed he is because they’ve played really well in some games.
“That’s the frustrating thing in the Premier League. You look at how we did against Burnley and Arsenal.”
Cardiff entertain Huddersfield one place and two points above the relegation zone, but Warnock insisted any game against outside the top six in the Premier League are winnable
He said: “When you approach teams like Man City you try to keep the score down with the way they’re playing. But any game against anyone outside the top six is a winnable game.
“We’ve got to take more of our chances. We’ve slipped back on that in the last few weeks. We had so many opportunities in the FA Cup match (against Gillingham) and didn’t take one of them.
In terms of looking ahead to the second half of the season, Warnock added: “I’m looking forward to it. The second half of the season, we’ve got something to grasp.
“We know how difficult it’s going to be. We’re not going to jeopardise the club financially. So don’t get too down if something doesn’t happen.”
Danny Ward is set to miss out for Cardiff after suffering a blow to the head during the FA Cup defeat at Gillingham last weekend.
Warnock said: “He’s seen a neurosurgeon. He seems OK, but I can’t say too much on it.
“I doubt he’ll be fit for tomorrow. It gives others an opportunity.
“If he’s not alright tomorrow he’ll probably be OK for next week.”
Rhys Healey, recalled from a loan spell at MK Dons, is set to take Ward’s place in the squad, with Kenneth Zohore still nursing a thigh injury.
Having signed a new three-year contract with the Bluebirds last season, the 24-year old has returned from a recent fruitful loan spell at Milton Keynes, where he scored nine goals in 21 games.
“He’ll probably be involved at the weekend if Danny Ward’s not about,” Warnock said.
Another loan spell hasn’t been ruled, although Warnock insists that MK are the only club that he would consider doing a deal with.
He added: “If he is involved with us, he can only go back to MK Dons, he can’t go anywhere else, so I’ve got to think about that. He’s done brilliantly at MK Dons and he’s looked sharp in training.”
Jason Puncheon is expected to make his Premier League debut for Huddersfield after arriving on loan from Crystal Palace.
Puncheon started in last week’s FA Cup defeat at Bristol City, while defender Christopher Schindler returns to contention after sitting out a one-game ban and boss Wagner is expected to recall Jonas Lossl in place of Ben Hamer.
Wagner has insisted he does not fear the sack, even if defeat at Cardiff leaves them 11 points behind Warnock’s Bluebirds.
When asked if he feared for his future, Wagner said: “It’s not about fear, it’s about that I’m not happy, which is how I should be after all these results.
“It’s about how I feel responsibility. I like to put smiles on people’s faces like we have done over the last three years and a couple of months.
“I’m not able to deliver this and this is nothing that satisfies me and this is what I meant when I said I know and I feel the responsibility for it.”
Huddersfield owner Hoyle repeated in October that he will not sack the German even if the club are relegated after two seasons in the top flight.
Wagner worked wonders when he first arrived at the John Smith’s Stadium in November 2015, transforming the club from relegation candidates to promotion winners in his first full season.
“I can’t ask for more support than I have had from the board, especially from Dean our chairman,” Wagner said. “We are always, even at the minute, in very tight and honest conversations about everything, so I can’t ask for more.”
Wagner refused to comment on speculation that Town have had a bid turned down by Leicester for striker Shinji Okazaki, although he hinted several options were being pursued.