Queens Park Rangers 2, Cardiff City 1
Neil Warnock is already planning for what will be a huge 2017-18 season for both the manager and the club.
Yorkshireman Warnock loves the rough and tumble of Championship football and yearns for one more promotion before he ends his managerial career.
If he can lead Cardiff City back to the top flight, and I certainly wouldn’t rule that out, he would willingly step aside in favour of a consultancy role.
“I have always said that the Championship is my cup of tea,” said Warnock. “I want one more promotion and if I do it with Cardiff, I then want a role to help them find the next manager.
Cardiff remain in the top half of Championship football despite their defeat at Queens Park Rangers, 15 points away from the play-off positions and 12 points clear of relegation danger.
The Bluebirds faithful turned out in force at Loftus Road, more than 1,800 making the trip, and their team had the edge, certainly in the second half..
Neither Rangers or City had the quality to take control, but Warnock’s men took the lead and should have earned a third successive away win.
The fact that they allowed a winning position to slip away underlines how much work Warnock has to do before the start of next season.
Cardiff’s work ethic, both as a group and individuals, is top notch, but they need more leadership, extra pace and knowhow.
Kenneth Zohore has made astonishing progress and has the ability to make an impact next season, but he has so much nice to learn and the experience he gains over the remaining 11 fixtures will be crucial to his education.
The physical presence, power and pace of Zohore has given Cardiff a big lift at the right time with Rickie Lambert struggling to shake off niggling injuries and Frederic Gounongbe completely out of favour.
Teenager Mark Harris was the only genuine forward option on the bench at QPR and Warnock sees strengthening his strike force as a priority over the summer.
I was among Bluebirds fans in the away end and those I talked to were happy with the effort put in by City players in London, if disappointed with the quality at times.
Warnock is reignited the passion among supporters, who are starting to believe that he could deliver a promotion challenge next season.
The Bluebirds are playing their part in working to attract more spectators to the stadium and have made a big offer for Saturday’s Championship home match against Birmingham City.
All season ticket holders – Cardiff have more than 12,000 of them – can buy four extra tickets to that match for £5 each.
Matt Smith’s late goal gave QPR their 2-1 victory against Cardiff on the day the west London club marked the 50th anniversary of their 1967 League Cup triumph.
Sol Bamba headed the Bluebirds ahead from Craig Noone’s corner a minute before half-time and away fans behind a goal celebrated wildly.
Rangers equalised after 62 minutes substitute Yeni Ngbakoto fired past goalkeeper Allan McGregor and Rangers produced a winner with seven minutes left.
Smith headed in Ngbakoto’s corner to leave the Bluebirds down and out.
“I’ve been saying for months we’re not going to make the play-offs,” said Warnock. “If we can’t win when we dominate like that we’re not going to make it this season.
“We were 1-0 up and really should have scored two or three goals in the second half. To then give them a chance is very disappointing. But to get where we are has been fabulous. The lads have really done well for me.”
Warnock has already committed to continuing his quest for an eighth promotion through next season and he has been analysing, planning and organising things for some time already.
And Cardiff’s last 11 Championship games will help finalise his thoughts on which players should and this who shouldn’t be part of the big push for glory next season.
QPR: A Smithies, J Lynch, G Hall, N Onuoha, S Goss (Y Ngbakoto 58), J Perch, J Bidwell, M Luongo (R Morrison 76), M Smith, J Mackie (P Wszolek 81), C Washington. Subs not used: R Manning, I Sylla, D Furlong, M Ingram.
Cardiff City: A McGregor, A Richards, S Morrison (capt), S Bamba, M Connolly (J Bennett 86), J Ralls, A Gunnarsson (G Halford 89), C Noone (A Pilkington 72), K Harris, J Hoilett, K Zohore. Subs not used: D John, B Murphy, P Whittingham, M Harris.
Referee: Darren England.
Attendance: 15,103