Neil Warnock has already decided on his starting line-up for Saturday’s Premier League fixture at Wolves.

The Bluebirds manager, speaking after Cardiff City’s 3-0 home defeat against Everton, said: “I know my team for Wolves and I want people who will be in the trenches because I was let down by one or two tonight. 

“I don’t want to name names, but you have to track your men and they didn’t do that for the first goal. One or two were poor and looked like they could have done with a rest.

“We will probably be in the bottom three when we go to Wolves and people will be writing us off. 

“I’m not going to throw the towel in and I’ll make sure we are ready for Saturday.”

Time is running out for Cardiff City. They have 10 Premier League fixtures left and need at least three wins, possibly four, to stay in the top level.

On the evidence of this Bluebirds’ team performance it’s difficult to see how they can achieve safety.

“It wasn’t a bad game, but there were small individual errors and somebody who cost £50m punished us. 

“If you make mistakes you are punished.

“I don’t think we are getting the rub of the green. I thought there was a foul on Bobby Reid for the first goal and on another day we could have had a handball off Michael Keane. But we have got to make our own luck and we have 10 games to go.”

City’s defensive work before the first and second Everton goals in particular was disastrous.

It was their most inept display of 2018-19. Where has the grit, team spirit and sheer tenacity gone over the last couple of fixtures?

City did not have one shot on target and Warnock must find a way to add an attacking spark in the remaining 10 fixtures.

That could come from Oumar Niasse, Joe Ralls and the creative Victor Camarasa, who was still ruled out by injury.

Bottom two Huddersfield, who scored an injury time winner against Wolves, and Fulham look on their way down, which would leave Cardiff in a straight shootout with Southampton and Brighton for the third relegation place.

The difference between the teams was Icelandic international Gylfi Sigurdsson, who scored Everton’s first two goals and took his personal Premier League goals tally to 57.

He is the outright leading Icelandic PL goalscorer, jumping ahead of Eidur Gudjohnsen (55), while his 16 goals for Everton since the start of 2017-18 is five more than any other player at the club.

“Gylfi is an important players for us,” said Everton manager Marco Silva. “You are all seeing a different Gylfi this season. We will see him play with more confidence.

“Every single day he gives everything for the team. When he can score and assist it improves his confidence. He plays with a little more freedom and links more.”

A disappointing first half featured only one shot on target that was Sigurdsson’s first goal. It came at a bad time, four minutes before half-time, and was the result of disastrous defensive work.

Junior Hoilett gave away possession, Sean Morrison won the ball back and then Joe Bennett lost it. City were guilty of losing focus and switching off, allowing Seamus Coleman time and space to pick out scorer Sigurdsson.

Everton’s second goal was scored after 65 minutes when Sigurdsson fired home left-footed after more uncertainty in the home defence, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin completed the scoring three minutes into injury time.

His right-foot shot from outside the penalty area flew into a bottom corner. Assisted by Idrissa Gueye with a through ball.

Cardiff have now conceded 31 goals at home in Premier League fixtures this season, more than any other side.

Eight of those came in two matches against Everton and Watford in a five day spell.

Cardiff started brightly when Kenneth Zohore sprang the offside trap on the left and dripped his low cross towards the back post, but Lucas Digne cleared.

City lost their way after that early raid and Everton ran out three-goal winners of a match in which both teams struggled to find fluency and struggled to keep possession.

Marco Silva, Everton’s manager said: “I am delighted with both the result and the attitude of the players.

“Credit to the players. Our performance was back to the normal levels.

“When you are winning confidence can return. We knew they were strong and would compete hard for second balls.

City are next in action at Wolves and Warnock says: “Wolves is always a great place to go to and Nuno [Espírito Santo] has done a great job there. I’m looking forward to that now.

“With 10 games to go, we still have a chance. It’s up to me now to make sure that we play the right team and have a go.”

Both teams gave away possession too easily and Cardiff have to manage the ball far better if they are to stand any hope of staying up.

Cardiff City: Neil Etheridge, Bruno Manga, Sean Morrison (capt), Sol Bamba, Joe Bennett, Leandro Bacuna, Aron Gunnarsson, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Callum Paterson 69), Junior Hoilett (Josh Murphy 68), Bobby Decordova-Reid, Kenneth Zohore (Danny Ward 81). Subs not used: Alex Smithies (gk), Lee Peltier, Harry Arter, Kadeem Harris. 

Everton: Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Phil Jagielka, Lucas Digne, Seamus Coleman, Gylfi Sigurdsson (Andrew Gomas 86), Theo Walcott (Ademola Lookman 82), Idrissa Gueye, Morgan Schneiderlin, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Richarlison (Bernard 61). Subs not used: Maarten Stekelenburg (gk), Yerry Mina, Cenk Tosun, Jonjoe Kenny.

Referee: Kevin Friend

Attendance: 31,849

Premier League results on Tuesday: Cardiff City 0, Everton 3; Huddersfield Town 1, Wolves 0; Leicester City 2, Brighton 1; Newcastle United 2, Burnley 2.

Premier League fixtures on Wednesday: Arsenal v AFC Bournemouth, Southampton, v Fulham, Chelsea v Spurs, Crystal Palace v Manchester United, Liverpool v Watford, Manchester City v West Ham.

Premier League table

		Team	P	GD	Pts
1		Liverpool	27	44	66
2		Man City	27	54	65
3		Tottenham	27	28	60
4		Arsenal	27	18	53
5		Man Utd	27	17	52
6		Chelsea	26	16	50
7		Watford	27	4	40
8		Wolves	28	0	40
9		Everton	28	0	36
10		West Ham	27	-5	36
11		Leicester	28	-5	35
12		Bournemouth	27	-10	34
13		Newcastle	28	-8	31
14		Crystal Palace	27	-4	30
15		Burnley	28	-19	30
16		Brighton	27	-12	27
17		Cardiff	28	-30	25
18		Southampton	27	-18	24
19		Fulham	27	-35	17
20		Huddersfield	28	-35	14