Neil Warnock is taking his inspiration from an old American crooner as he provides the melody, rhythm and drum beat of Cardiff City’s march back to the top of the Championship.

The Bluebirds manager revealed he had been to a Neil Sedaka concert in the build-up to his team’s heavy bass 3-1 thumping of Leeds United on Tuesday night, played out to an ear-bashing by a near capacity 28,000 crowd.

The singer is still packing them in as a 78-year-old, just like Warnock is still relishing building promotion-winning sides at only 10 years younger.

Two goals from Kenneth Zohore – his first since the opening day of the season – and a blistering drive from the hugely influential Junior Hoiliett was too much for Leeds.

Compared to Cardiff’s sweet symphony, Leeds were tone deaf, although they did manage one note of defiance with a goal for Kemar Roofe after their skipper Liam Cooper had been sent off on the stroke of half-time.

For the most part, though, there was a gulf in energy and intensity between the teams who began the night locked together level on points at the top of the table.

When Cardiff play with this much potency and drive – as they did earlier in the season at home to Aston Villa – it is entirely realistic to imagine them remaining in the automatic promotion places at the end of the season.

Warnock said: “I watched Neil Sedaka and he’s 78 but still doing it. I thought that’s how I feel. I want to keep going.

“Our supporters were super and I thought we were on the front foot from the start. We really got at it and gave an excellent performance.

“We looked dangerous all the time. I feel proud of the whole club tonight. There was excitement everywhere. The support keeps you going. I asked them to turn out tonight and it was a fabulous atmosphere – 27,000 people, it’s brilliant, that, isn’t it?

“We had a few injuries from Saturday and Jazz Richards looks like he might be out for three months with an ankle injury.”

The news of the lengthy spell out for defender Richards – who will also miss Wales’ final two World Cup qualifiers next month – was the only discordant note for Cardiff.

Zohore had power that Leeds struggled to contain, whilst Hoilett’s pace and trickery, plus the industry of Loic Damour, tormented Thomas Christiansen’s side who were second best throughout

Warnock added: “I thought we played well and before half time, and before the sending off I thought I was going to say we can do better, even against 11 men.

“We had to keep shouting at them to push on. The third goal, Craig Bryson’s run, he took three men with him and it was super. To see Ken get two tap-ins, he’s played well over the last few weeks and just hadn’t had a chance.”

Warnock also paid tribute to Hoilett who sliced open Leeds’ defence to hand Zohore his first goal, then struck a wickedly dipping drive for the second, before playing three slick passes in the build-up to Cardiff’s third and Zohore’s second goal just on the hour.

“When he plays like that he’s as good as anyone in the league.

“We’ve got to re-group and get ready for Saturday. I was happy with a point at Fulham, I was disappointed at Preston, but there were reasons.

“But tonight was a great night for the club, it was really pleasing with how we went about it. The Warnock Way. “

Hoilett’s pace and Damaour’s creativity set up Zohore for an easy tap in after 28 minutes and then that dipping Hoilett shot made it 2-0.

Cooper then saw red for his reckless challenges before a flowing move gave Zohore a chance to make it 3-0 on the hour mark.

By the time a deflected Roofe shot pulled a goal back for Leeds, Cardiff had long since warmed up Warnock’s vocal chords.

Leeds manager Thomas Christiansen claimed Cardiff caused his side few problems but admitted: “I am disappointed with the result.

“We made two mistakes that brought Cardiff into the game without them creating any problems for us.

“The red card was a very bad moment for us. But the performance of the team in the second half was a show of character. The team played even better with 10 men than 11.

“He is experienced and in that situation he should have known what to do. But I don’t want to blame anyone individually.

“It was a game where we had to move a lot and if you don’t move then it is difficult.”