{"id":1624,"date":"2016-10-25T03:00:33","date_gmt":"2016-10-25T07:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=1624"},"modified":"2016-10-24T19:09:18","modified_gmt":"2016-10-24T23:09:18","slug":"cardiff-city-warnocks-instant-impact","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/10\/25\/cardiff-city-warnocks-instant-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"Neil Warnock’s Instant Impact at Cardiff City"},"content":{"rendered":"

The doom and gloom of relegation under Paul Trollope<\/strong>\u00a0appears but a distant memory for\u00a0Cardiff City<\/strong>. Here is how\u00a0Neil Warnock’s<\/strong>\u00a0instant impact has improved their\u00a0fortunes.<\/p>\n

Cardiff City: Warnock’s instant impact<\/h2>\n

The doom and gloom amongst the Bluebirds\u00a0<\/strong>fans\u00a0was instantly lifted due to the appointment of Neil Warnock. The 67-year old is looking for what would be a record-breaking eighth promotion by a single manager in England.<\/p>\n

Four Signings<\/h2>\n

A favoured appointment from the supporters saw Neil Warnock’s first game against bitter local rivals Bristol City.<\/strong> It also saw the biggest home crowd since the home league match against Bolton Wanderers<\/strong> in the 2015-2016 season. All four of Warnock’s free-transfers\u2014Sol Bamba, Junior Hoilett, Marouane Chamakh and Kieron Richardson\u2014were included in the match-day squad.\u00a022,776 observed one of the best games at the Cardiff City Stadium<\/strong> since the club’s relegation from the Premier League<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The style and quality of football was lacking for most of the game, yet the fierce passion showed by a team who have looked beleaguered\u00a0all season made this an enthralling encounter.<\/p>\n

The Bluebirds came out with a 2-1 win with impressive performances all-round, including a debutant\u00a0Junior Hoilett,\u00a0who impressed on the wing. Man of the Match debutant Sol Bamba was a rock at the back and popped up to score what was eventually the deciding goal.<\/p>\n

Wonderful Whittingham<\/h3>\n

Peter Whittingham<\/strong> scored a penalty after Craig Noone was brought down by Joe Bryan. After Bamba scored a second, Bristol City’s Lee Tomlin<\/strong> scored a cracker from 25 yards outside the box.<\/p>\n

Five celebratory evenings later, Cardiff City hosted the impressive Sheffield Wednesday,<\/strong> who pipped City to the final play-off spot last season. The Bluebirds went ahead from a typically brilliant left-footed free-kick from the effervescent Whittingham. Wednesday pulled back to earn a point with Daniel\u00a0Pudil’s\u00a0<\/strong>second-half tap-in.<\/p>\n

Warnock’s first away match was against Nottingham Forest,<\/strong> who are struggling with off-field issues. The Bluebirds should have capitalised on a defensive lapse which saw Joe Ralls<\/strong> break free from the Forest defence. One-on-one with the ‘keeper, he pulled his shot wide of the post. The Bluebirds did capitalise from the next lapse in concentration with Aron Gunnarsson<\/strong> scoring a free-header from a Whittingham corner.<\/p>\n

The lead was doubled\u00a0when Craig Noone stole possession near the corner flag. He\u00a0whipped in a low cross to Anthony Pilkington,<\/strong> who hit it straight at the ‘keeper. The rebound fell kindly to Ralls, who headed home. Forest did pull a goal back in the second half from a 90th minute penalty, meaning the Bluebirds have only kept one clean sheet all season, coming on the opening day against Birmingham City<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Great Passion<\/h3>\n

Passion is a word fans love to use when describing the team’s performances. Dire football with 100% commitment is most welcome. Trollope’s clean-cut passing style lacked any desire which is why the fans and the players lost all confidence.\u00a0Warnock’s appointment has made an instant impact on the squad’s results too; seven points from three league matches almost eclipses Trollope’s eight points from eleven matches.<\/p>\n

Cardiff\u00a0will be looking for their first back-to-back wins of the season against Wigan, who sit 23rd in the table. The Latics are winless away from home, having taken just two points\u00a0away from the DW Stadium<\/strong> all season.\u00a0Rickie Lambert<\/strong> is a doubt for the home fixture against struggling Wigan Athletic<\/strong> after suffering a nasty cut against Forest. Nevertheless, Warnock should be expecting to pick up another three points here.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n