Neil Warnock believes Cardiff City’s spirit can carry them to promotion this season – even if other clubs have more talent.
The Bluebirds manager has admitted his side were dominated for long periods during their 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, a feeling they may have to get used to as the Championship season progresses.
But the fight and determination typified in Sol Bamba’s injury time equaliser can help them overcome deficiencies in their squad, according to Warnock.
“Both Sheffield Wednesday and ourselves are two of the better sides in the League and I thought it was a good game,” said Warnock.
“They have the stuff for the purists and we have the never-say-die attitude and some good players as well. That’s why it’s a fabulous League, nobody’s safe against anyone.
“It feels like winning a game. I’ve been on the other end and you just feel distraught. It will happen to us at some stage this season and we’ll feel the same.
“But I thought we deserved it thanks to the second half. I think we had 12 efforts to their three.
“I was disappointed with the first half. We were not on the front foot and we would have been more vulnerable if they had gone after us.
“They’re a good side and they will have the measure of most sides between the boxes. They are going to have the possession. But it’s what you do with it that matters.”
Bamba salvaged a point for Cardiff to prevent a sleepless night for his manager, a former Sheffield United boss who loathes losing to the bunch from the other side of the steel city.
It was the second time in successive home games Bamba has scored the decisive goal for the Bluebirds, following his winner against QPR, and it prevented back-to-back defeats for the early season pace-setters.
The big centre-back smashed home a Nathaniel Mendez-Laing cross in the fourth minute of stoppage time to cancel out Gary Hooper’s first-half header – the striker’s fourth goal in as many games for Wednesday.
“I thought Sol was a colossus for us today and I’d give him 10 out of 10 for that overall performance,” added Warnock.
“I’ve not seen a centre-half play like that for a long time. He dragged us through the game, really.”
If it felt like a winner for Warnock – putting his team back among the trio of clubs leading the Championship – then it must have hurt like a loss for Carlos Carvalhal.
Carvalhal’s team had dominated the first-half and deserved their lead through Hooper’s glancing finish to Adam Reach’s pinpoint cross in the 38th minute, but should have made the game secure with a chance for striker Steven Fletcher that he blasted over 20 minutes from the end.
Wednesday were so dominant in the opening-half, the home side were just spectators. But just like last season, they lack a killer instinct, although Carvalhal insist he’s not concerned.
“In the four draws we have achieved so far we have played better than the opponents in all of them,” said the Portuguese boss.
“We are playing good football, we are in good shape and the players are showing a big commitment. The performances have been good and this is making us feel confident for the future.”