Tue Sep 19, 2017 6:11 pm
' Keep the fear factor '
By Dominic Booth
Tuesday 19th September 2017
Cardiff's early season purple patch owed as much to a psychological edge as anything more tangible. It was evident especially at Molineux when an unsettled Wolves outfit couldn't live with Cardiff's intensity. It was as if Nuno Espirito Santo's side were cowed by the Bluebirds that day, with Warnock's reputation preceding him and defenders standing off Mendez-Laing as if concerned about the winger's scintillating form.
The Preston defeat might just have damaged that reputation. Alex Neil boldly proclaimed Cardiff weren't 'any great shakes' before the game and was vindicated in the 90 minutes that followed at Deepdale.
Wednesday pounced on Cardiff's vulnerability four days after too, dominating possession in the first half as if determined to prove themselves as the more dominant force.
Warnock isn't scared by anyone — and actually thrives on the 'underdog' tag — but the job of a football manager is often to massage the egos of his players. If the Bluebirds boss can do that with Zohore, Mendez-Laing and Gunnarsson and make them feel a million dollars again, they will start frightening teams again.