Cardiff City fans will turn out in force to back manager Neil Warnock and his Bluebirds against Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.
Up to 4,000 City supporters will make the trip and the home team expect an attendance of around 33,000 for Cardiff’s visit plus the return of Yorkshireman Neil Warnock, a former Leeds manager.
“I’ve been a manager for 33 years and this last 12 months have been the hardest,” said Warnock when he resigned from the Elland Road job during April 2013.
“I think it is right for the club (if I go) now. The fans have said it.
“‘I have done the best I can. We changed the whole squad round and it doesn’t need major surgery, it just needs two to three quality players.”
Leeds fans chanted ‘Warnock, time to go’ during a 2-1 home defeat against Derby County and he stepped down after the final whistle with his team lying 12th in the table.
Now Warnock takes his Cardiff City team to Elland Road intent on earning what would be a highly creditable victory.
“The players gave everything they had against Norwich City and we want that same work ethic,” said Warnock. “Now we have two tough away games, just as we did against Brighton and Reading. How did we lose both of those games?
“I hope I’m not saying the same after we’ve played Leeds on Saturday and Derby County next Tuesday.
“We are quite capable of earning positive results against both of them.”
Cardiff have won three and lost three in their last six Championship fixtures, slipping to a 1-0 defeat at home against Norwich last time out.
Leeds are fifth in the Championship table, while Derby are just outside the play-offs.
Warnock was in charge at Elland Road for 13 months and 62 matches. When he took the role during February 2012 he openly said it would be his last job in management.
But he badly wants to achieve a record eighth promotion and since leaving Leeds he has been in charge at Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, Rotherham United and now Cardiff City.
Warnock will be on the side of the Leeds pitch on Saturday, but there is a real chance that home manager Garry Monk may not be in or around the home dug-out.
Former Swansea City manager Monk could be handed a Football Association charge after his touchline confrontation with Huddersfield Town’s David Wagner.
The flare-up happened near the end of their Yorkshire derby when Wagner celebrated his team’s late winner.
Cardiff will again be without Bruno Manga, Lee Peltier, Joe Bennett and Rickie Lambert, while Anthony Pilkington will be assessed later this week.
Possible teams, Leeds United: Green, Ayling, Bartley, Jansson, Berardi, O’Kane, Bridcutt, Hernandez, Roofe, Dallas, Wood.
Cardiff City: McGregor, Connolly, Morrison, Bamba, Richards, K Harris, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, Ralls, Hoilett, Zohore.