THE NEIL WARNOCK EFFECT REAPS REWARDS

‘ THE NEIL WARNOCK EFFECT REAPS REWARDS ‘

By Carl Curtis

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=178420

Cardiff City 2-1 Bristol City

Attendance 22,776

New man, new idea, new Cardiff City.

Neil Warnock handed debuts to three players in the derby match tonight, Joe Bennett made his long awaited debut after signing with a calf injury and two of Warnock’s own signings Bamba and Hoilett both got the nod to start.

City lined up as a 4-3-2-1 and in the first half were very organised and disciplined.

City conceded possession by 59%-41% in the first 45 minutes but we were the most creative with 6 shots compared to Bristol City’s 1 effort.

Craig Noone showed great footwork to get a penalty for City which Whittingham scored, that was Whitt’s 25th converted penalty, only missing 3 out of 28.

Noone was a shade offside leading up to the penalty but who cares after we saw the first City player to score at home this season.

Overall I thought it was only Cardiff City who deserved to take the lead and thankfully we did.

Half Time : Cardiff City 1-0 Bristol City

City started the second half very much in the same vain as the first, body’s blocking shots and a real desire to work for the manager, no more so than Sol Bamba who was a rock at the heart of defence, Bamba was continually putting in solid challenges timed to perfection, a no nonsense centre half.

When Whittingham was replaced by Lex Immers, Joe Ralls took over corner duties and from his first set piece, Bamba put City 2-0 ahead after Lambert saw his shot come back off the bar but the big centre half was the first to react and fire the ball high into the Bristol City net.

Just two minutes, Lee Tomlin beat Ben Amos at his near post from outside the box while City were down to 10 men, with Immers laying injured on the deck, players squared up to each other and a couple of yellow cards were handed out.

City had to take a hold on the game as Bristol City got their tails up and they did, the players regrouped and kept working for each other.

Bristol City have shown how strong they can be late on in games and tonight was no exception, twice in injury time they came close to equalising.

Tonight we saw the effect of Neil Warnock as a manager, the players knew their jobs and stuck to it, they were committed and showed a desire that has not been there this season.

Man of the match tonight for me was Sol Bamba.