Wolves Warnock'd

With the two sides boasting 100% records from the three Championship games so far this season, there was always going to be an air of confidence surrounding Molineux yesterday afternoon.

Wolves fans had the sort of self-assurance you tend to get when you spend nearly £20m in one summer on quality players.

Before every game, I look on forums and social media to see what the fans of the opposition think ahead of the upcoming fixture. 

Most expect a tough match against a well-drilled Neil Warnock side - a statement history would prove correct. However, a lot of the Wolves support showed some incredibly misplaced arrogance in assuming that gritty, ugly Cardiff would be no match for their silky, total football. 

They were keen to stress that Cardiff had beaten three poor teams this season (Burton, Villa and Sheffield United) and that once they came up against the mighty Wanderers, they would be found wanting. 

Cardiff fans, on the other hand, although in buoyant mood, were wary that City simply don't do four wins in a row. I'll admit, I wasn't convinced City could win up in the Midlands. I've been following the Bluebirds for long enough to know that when things are going too good, a fall is usually around the corner. 

Before we were even out of South Wales, an announcement was made on the bus that The Telegraph was reporting that a Brighton bid had been accepted by City for Kenneth Zohore. With the mood sombre, City fans pondered just how could City expect to win at Molineux without the big Dane, and was Omar Bogle not signed as back-up, but as a replacement?

As the mood in the away end brightened following a Manchester United goal-fest at the Liberty Stadium, things got even better when the news came through that Zohore was starting for City, and that the supposed bid was a load of rubbish - for now at least.

To the game itself, and, if any Wolves fans had any assumptions that this was going to be a walkover, they were soon to be reminded that those kinds of matches seldom exist in the Championship. 

In this league, work-rate and cohesion go a hell of a long way. You have to be as good off the ball as you are with it and Cardiff's pressing was on a level I've never seen from them before. In the early stages, Wolves were not given an inch. 

Warnock's teams have a reputation for being bullish, physical and masters of the 'dark arts'. Little kicks, niggles and clever fouls are used to disrupt the opposition and void them of any rhythm. These tactics, employed by Cardiff on times yesterday, seemed to wind up the majority inside Molineux, who struggled to grasp why a team had come to fight and not simply bow down to the footballing gods in orange. 

Wolves were rattled as several passes from their star players went astray and things quickly got heated. The crowd voiced the majority of their discontent towards referee Scott Duncan, after several 'meaty' challenges from Cardiff. 

There was also one incident that caused managers Nuno and Warnock to square up following an apparent elbow on Romain Siass from the impressive Loic Damour. If anything did happen - and the reaction of the benches and stand suggested it did - it was off the ball and on the opposite side of the away end, so, to quote Arsene Wenger: "I didn't see it."

If it was harsh on Wolves that Cardiff didn't go in at the break with ten men, it was harsher that Cardiff weren't in the lead. Sol Bamba rattled the bar with a point-blank header, and with goalkeeper John Ruddy called into action numerous times, Wolves were fortunate to still be level. 

The second half started much the same and the 2,000 travelling support didn't have to wait too long for a goal. Junior Hoilett, one of the star men of the season so far, easily beat his man before having the composure to pick out Joe Ralls who passed the ball into the net.

Awoken after conceding, Wolves started to show why they're considered one of the favourites to go up this year. 

They got the equaliser when Neil Etheridge could only parry a shot into the path of Diogo Jota, who in turn set up Barry Douglas to drill in a ball for Leo Bonatini to tap in. Etheridge has been criticised by some for not holding on to the initial shot, but I think that's a bit unfair. It was a powerful effort and he did try to get it away from danger, which didn't quite work out. 

Etheridge has been solid since his arrival and with Lee Camp out for some time yet, I am more than comfortable with City having him in between the sticks. 

With the match evenly poised and the crowd enthralled in an intriguing encounter, both sides looked for the winner. Cardiff were especially vulnerable on the counter, with several of their own corners nearly resulting in one-on-ones for Wanderers.

When I went on the forums ahead of the game, Nathaniel-Mendez Laing, a Wolves academy protege, was predictably labelled a 'Wolves reject' by some, despite the fact he had scored three league goals in as many games this season.

Aside from the reject comments, the more 'thoughtful' of the Wolves fanbase acknowleged that Mendez-Laing came through when Wolves were in the Premier League. With a raft of quality available, the youngster was unable to force his way in and found himself plying his trade in the lower leagues. With his ability unquestioned, it was his mental state that seemingly ended his career at Wolves. This is something Warnock has clearly addressed already in his few months at Cardiff.

Another feature on the messageboards was just how many ex-Wolves players seem to score against them when they revisit. It's a football cliche that players go back to haunt their old clubs, but it's seemingly true for Wolves. In fact, when Mendez-Laing powered a shot through Ruddy to score the eventual winner, every reply on the Wolves forum was along the line of: 'Every f***ing time'.

On Boxing Day's fixture at Brentford last year, Zohore scored an 87th minute goal to put City in front, only to concede a few moments later. After that game, a visibly fuming Warnock said: "This will never happen again,"

How right he was. Cardiff saw out the last few moments of the game yesterday in relative comfort. No panic, no rash clearances. Calm, composed and efficient, City coasted their way to victory to make it four wins out of four. In Cardiff teams of the past, the trait of concentration in the latter stages was rarely held.

Again, there was not one player who had a poor game. Every individual made a contribution to the team effort and, as I mentioned earlier, cohesion goes a long way here. 

I will give honourable mentions for Hoilett, Ralls and Mendez-Laing who, as a free transfer, is proving to be the signing-of-the-season on the evidence so far. 

 

Wolves fans didn't take the defeat too well. Painting Warnock as a footballing dinosaur with an out of date philosophy (I hate that word in football), they accused Cardiff of being cheats, dirty and cowardly. But it's very short-sighted to see it like that. 

City played some superb stuff yesterday. As often there's a crunching tackle, there's a piece of brilliance from Hoilett. As often there's a powering header from Sean Morrison, there's a one-two between Ralls and Damour. As often there's a long throw from Aron Gunnarsson, there's a Cruyff (Robson-Kanu?) turn from Zohore. 

There's a balance. Each of the defence, midfield and forwards possess power, technique and resilience. 

Cardiff were quicker and fitter. They completely outworked Wolves and if their fans think that pretty football is going to be enough to get you out of this league, then yesterday should offer some much-needed clarification. 

Wolves are a good side, but there's now a blueprint on how to beat them. I doubt Nuno would have faced too many teams like Cardiff under Warnock in his managerial career, but he can expect a few more this season. 

Riled, outfought, and out-thought: Wolves were well and truly Warnock'd. 

Warnock Bringing City Back

This week saw the fifth anniversary of the night that Cardiff City beat Crystal Palace to reach the League Cup final, their fourth trip to Wembley in as many years.

That team was led emotively by Malky Mackay, a man who effortlessly ingratiated his way into the hearts of the fans of the club. The final, however heartbreaking the ending turned out to be, was one of the last few occasions that it felt like you were watching City.

In the half a decade since that penalty defeat to Liverpool, following the club has often seemed a chore; a weekly punishment for an unknown crime.

It's not been the same since Ben Turner's goal against Liverpool in 2012

It's pretty baffling that such a feeling could arise when you consider that during these five years, the Bluebirds comfortably won the Championship, and achieved Premier League home wins against Swansea City and Manchester City in their short stay in the top division.

The rebrand debacle ensured that the soul of the club had been tarnished. The unique aspect that made it Cardiff City, the distinguishable feature that over the years had entrapped thousands on a lifelong roller-coaster, had vanished.

Mackay's sacking, Solskjaer's overspending, relegation and the underwhelming appointment of Russell Slade followed. Cardiff were on a never-ending downward spiral.

Slade wasn't fancied from the start by a large number of City fans, mainly because he was perceived to be another 'yes-man' to Vincent Tan. With his quiet, often self-depreciating and uninspiring demeanor, the former Leyton Orient boss didn't fit the ideology of what some fans identified as a City manager. An ideology that was executed impeccably by Mackay and one that every future manager will be compared with for some time yet.

In fairness to Slade, for what he lacked in persona and charisma, he made up for with results.

He was the one that eventually steadied the ship, after all. Despite being restricted by the now financially astute Tan, Slade led the club to 11th and 8th respectively.

The ship was safe, but was it going to go anywhere?  Although possessing a squad capable of challenging, Cardiff's play-off push never really got going. This, coupled with the fact that there some animosity still lingering in the stands towards him, meant that Slade's time as Cardiff boss was over.

Moved upstairs (for a fortnight at least), he was replaced by Paul Trollope, an appointment that offered more evidence of the cost-cutting efforts by Tan.

Although a good coach for City and Wales, it quickly went downhill for Trollope. Winning only twice in eleven league games, the team were sinking at an alarming rate and were likely heading to League One.

It was clear that the club needed a hero. A firefighter that would not only douse the flames of relegation but could also be the orchestrator of something far bigger in the seasons ahead.

There was only one name that fitted the bill - Neil Warnock.

With seven promotions already noted down, Warnock added a great escape to his CV following his saving of a seemingly doomed Rotherham United last season.

At Championship level, his pedigree is second-to-none.

Not only does he fit the bill in terms of the club's aspirations (from relegation candidates to promotion candidates), he also fits the fans' ideologies previously mentioned.

Passionate, explosive and successful - Warnock is the type of person that is equally loved by his own as he is hated by others.

On his Wikipedia page, not only does he have a 'Disputes' section - something that is impressive in itself - he has five subsections within that. From arguments with players to having rows with entire clubs, there are not many people out there that Warnock hasn't pissed off at some point.

But that's what's needed in this league, especially when you're at the wrong end of the table trying to work your way up.

Nice football is all well and good, but when teams get in your face, you better have some steel about you. The Championship is 46 grueling games of 'in your face' football. Cardiff didn't have that nasty streak under Trollope but have it in abundance now.

After every game, I look at the opposition's forums to see what they thought of City's performance etc. More often that not, they all follow the same pattern. They moan about how we nullified them, how we stopped them playing and how we outfought them.

I don't rate Warnock purely because of his fiery temper, his robust style of football and the fact that he makes it seem like it's Cardiff City against the world. Most importantly, he's successful and ambitious. He's made no effort to hide his need for a record eighth promotion.

How the table looks since Warnock was appointed on October 5th, 2016. 

The table since he's joined shows how well he, his staff and some of his signings have done to guide Cardiff up the table and on the cusp of safety. Tuesday night's spirited defeat at table-toppers Brighton is a testament to how far this side has come.

It's been reported that this season is an audition for Warnock. If he does well, he'll be backed considerably by Tan for a promotion push next year. However, if he doesn't show enough, the Yorkshireman's time in South Wales will be cut short with Warnock admitting he'll only stay if his aspirations are matched.

Tan only needs to look at the above graphic to see that with the extra 3/4 players that are needed, a play-off challenge is achievable.

But, along with the relative success on the pitch in his short time here, Warnock has achieved something far more remarkable off it.

This may just apply to me or you might feel the same, but, for the first time in years, I'm really enjoying my Saturdays. It's great going to games knowing that we're at least going to give it a go and that the players are going to show a bit of bottle and fight.

That's all the majority of football fans want; a bit of heart. I don't care if we fail to win every game. If that mattered, I'd follow Barcelona via Sky Sports.

Nor am I bothered about an amazing possession-based game with hundreds of three-yard passes. That's not the Cardiff way, nor the British way. Goals, shots and full-blooded tackles - that's what I like to see at a game.

City have never been perceived as a 'nicey-nice' and fashionable club and we probably never will be. I've always heard people call Cardiff a horrible club and having Neil Warnock in charge will only enhance that, but I think that's a great thing to have.

We may as well embrace it, I quite like the thought of teams dreading playing us. It's how it used to be.

When Warnock signed, he said: "This is my type of club - blood and guts."

We're his type of club and he's our type of manager. It feels good to have the old City back.