Neil Warnock has insisted Cardiff City’s promotion challenge will be revived by January signings – despite back-to-back defeats over Christmas.

The Bluebirds manager saw his team lose their unbeaten home record this season with a 4-2 defeat to Fulham, just three days after they were beaten at Bolton.

It dropped Cardiff out of the Championship automatic promotion places for the first time in a month, but Warnock insists two loan signings in January will stop a blip becoming a full-blown slide down the table.

“I’m not down-hearted or demoralised,” said Warnock, who has identified five players he would like to bring in on loan – including one from the Premier League – and expects owner Vincent Tan to authorize two of them.

“People are dying over the world. We have lost two games, but we are still in a great position. I would still like my lads alongside me in the trenches.

“Our aim at the start of the season was to get into play-offs, but we have exceeded expectations so now the aim is a little higher. I still think we are well placed for that.

“I was disappointed in the goals we conceded. But overall they were better than us. But it says a lot about us as a team that we kept going and I can’t fault them for attitude.

“There could be one player coming in from the Premier League but I want players who can supplement what we’ve got and who can do it at this level.

“But there’s not a lot wrong, we just need to brush up on things a little, like giving away silly goals from one or two individuals.

“I was disappointed with the goals we conceded here, but overall I thought they were better than us.”

Cardiff face Preston at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday having lost their unbeaten record with the defeat to Fulham and Warnock added: “It’s disappointing, but if you told me at the start of the season we wouldn’t lose it until Christmas and being in and around the top two, I’d have been delighted.”

Cardiff trailed 1-0 at the break after Ream headed Fulham in front after 12 minutes and with more composure the lead would have been greater.

Ayite put them 2-0 ahead with a tap in, but Zohore’s 25-yard volley gave Cardiff hope until Sessegnon capped a fine display by making it 3-1.

A header injury time from Paterson gave Cardiff impetus again, but as they threw players forward Johansen caught them on the break with a fourth Fulham goal.

Slavisa Jokanovic improved his managerial credentials before opting not to distance himself from links with Swansea City.

Fulham’s Serbian manager reminded his admirers of how good Fulham were at times last season, but when asked directly whether he had been approached by Swansea to succeed Paul Clement, he said:“I am only working with my teams.

“My job is here. If somebody is interested in me I must be happy, but I am thinking only about my team.”

“Where we will finish at the end of the season, I do not know, but I do know we can now be competitive in this league.”