Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:56 am
Tuesday 12th December 2017
By Ian Mitchelmore
Neil Warnock has described his dismissal from the touchline during Cardiff City's 2-2 draw with Reading at the Madejski Stadium as the most "trivial" sending off of his career.
The Yorkshireman was sent to the stands in the second half of the Bluebirds' stunning comeback against Jaap Stam's side after referee Stephen Martin gave a foul against Callum Paterson.
It meant the veteran boss was unable to see Joe Bennett and Lee Tomlin strike late on as Cardiff stretched their unbeaten run to five matches.
And Warnock has lifted the lid on why he was told to leave the touchline against the Royals.
"I’ve been in the game 37 years and I've never been sent off for something like this," said Warnock.
"He gave a free-kick against Paterson and when you look at it never should have been, it should’ve been our free-kick.
"I said to the fourth official - who’s an experienced man, I’ve said a lot of good things about him in the past - I said “he’s arched his back”, it’s similar to one in the first half. I find it amazing.
"I’m 69-years-old and I’ve never been sent off for anything as trivial as that.
"I don’t know what they’ll say. The fans might have enjoyed it. Someone usually gets sent off when I’m at Reading so it was my turn tonight."
And when asked where he watched the final quarter of the match, Warnock responded: "They said I’ll take you to the directors box and I said are you joking? This is Reading. I’m not going anywhere near their fans.
"I said I’ll watch it on my phone but I couldn’t get 3G in the dressing room.
"I ended up going in the TV section with a few of the guys and when we got the first goal they shot off.
"I saw the second goal and obviously celebrated running around the little room on my own."