CARDIFF City manager Neil Warnock has dismissed hopes of a late play-off push despite the Bluebirds continuing their excellent form with a 5-0 win against Rotherham United.
Goals from Kadeem Harris, Junior Hoilett, Craig Noone and two from Kenneth Zohore helped Cardiff brush aside bottom club Rotherham at the weekend – and prompted Noone to speculate about a possible promotion run.
“We’ve just won three on the spin so anything can happen this season,” said goalscorer Noone, who refused to rule out the chance of a play-off push.
The win, the biggest the club has had since a 6-0 away victory against Bristol City in 2010, came off the back of two away wins against Leeds and Derby.
Despite the momentum, manager Neil Warnock doesn’t believe the club are play-off contenders this season. “We can’t make the play-offs, absolutely not,” said Warnock.
“You can’t stop people dreaming but I’m a realist at my age. You can’t keep winning and winning.”
The game against Rotherham started slowly. Both teams struggled to get a foothold, until Harris curled in an effort from a long throw after 11 minutes.
Zohore had the chance to make it two on 40 minutes but his effort was straight at the keeper. In the build up to that chance, Rhys Healey went down with an injury to his left leg.
The injury to the youngster is a big blow to the Bluebirds, and manager Warnock was incredibly disappointed for him. “We think Rhys has done both his ligaments. It’s a crying shame for the young lad. He’s going for another scan now but it looks like that’s the case,” he said.
Since the press conference it has been confirmed Healey will have to undergo surgery and will spend nine months in rehabilitation before returning the action.
Healey was replaced by Hoilett who wasted no time making his mark on the game. A loose back pass from Rotherham’s Ben Purrington was picked up by Hoilett, who calmly slotted home the ball past a helpless O’Donnell.
In the second half Noone made it 3-0 with a scissor kick volley from a Harris cross before Zohore bagged his first of the game, thumping in an effort off the post from an incredibly tight angle.
The icing on the cake was Zohore’s second and Cardiff’s fifth. The big striker showed he is more than just an aerial threat. Flanking the Rotherham defence he showed off his pace, before lifting the ball over O’Donnell who was caught in no-mans-land.
The victory sees the Bluebirds remain the division’s best side of 2017, having collected 21 points from a possible 30.
