CARDIFF City will be looking to end a run of four games without a win as they host fellow mid-table side Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Last time out the Bluebirds conceded an 89th minute equaliser against Birmingham City, leaving manager Neil Warnock frustrated. His team have now dropped nine points by conceding goals after the 80th minute.
In a press conference on Friday, he said: “I can’t fault the effort. We’ve talked about the late goals and hopefully we can learn from that and I think we can.”
Cardiff now go up against an Ipswich side who managed to salvage an injury time draw against Barnsley last week and who sit just three places below them in the Championship.
Although the Tractor Boys have drawn seven matches in a row, they’re unbeaten since January 31 and Neil Warnock is expecting a tough game.
He said: “It was difficult against Birmingham because of the system and Ipswich play the same way so I doubt it will be a great game.”
The biggest threat to the Bluebirds is their former loanee, Tom Lawrence. The Welsh winger, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Cardiff, is in fine form and has earned a call-up to the Wales squad after scoring a number of spectacular goals recently.
Warnock is a fan of the 23-year-old Welshman: “I wish we had him playing for us, he didn’t play much here, I find that pretty amazing,” he said.
Saturday’s match also sees Neil Warnock come up against his longtime friend Mick McCarthy and the Cardiff boss paid tribute to his counterpart.
“I was about 25 when I met him, he was a couple of years younger, an apprentice. He was the biggest 16-year-old ever, a great guy.
“He’s a bit like Wenger, fans having a go at regular times, but he’s like me and doesn’t worry about the sack, and if he left tomorrow he’d get a job the next week [and] so would I,” he said.
Cardiff have no new injuries ahead of the tie, although Warnock admits that they are still struggling for a full squad. Lee Peltier, Rickie Lambert and Rhys Healey all remain injured.
There is some good news for Cardiff fans however, as defender Bruno Manga could be set for a shock return to the first team, despite being ruled out for six months in January with a serious knee problem.
The Gabonese defender suffered an injury when playing for his country in the African Cup of Nations.
Saturday’s game against will take place at the Cardiff City Stadium. Kick-off is at 3pm.
Cardiff City Stadium (Credit: Phil Marsh)
