Neil Warnock: Cardiff City manager plays down promotion push
Last updated on .From the section Cardiff
Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has warned against rising expectations, insisting his Bluebirds side are a long way from the finished article.
Warnock's men climbed out of the Championship bottom three with a 2-1 win away at Nottingham Forest.
The result made it seven points from Warnock's three games in charge, but he talked down a promotion push.
"I was asked about promotion, but I said 'let's get out the bottom three first'," Warnock said.
"We do get carried away. We are nowhere near the finished article, but we've got a genuine bunch of players and the fans are getting behind us.
"We have worked hard for the results. To get seven points from three games is a tribute to the whole staff really. We've worked hard and the lads have taken it on board, it's not a fluke."
Goals from Aron Gunnarsson and Joe Ralls put the visitors in charge against 10-man Forest, who had Thomas Lam sent off, but there was late drama when Gunnarsson was judged to have fouled Henri Lansbury who converted from the spot.
"The referee [Andy Woolmer] is a good one, but I think it was a soft penalty. I think he just got a bit bored and wanted to make it a bit more exciting for the last few minutes," Warnock continued.
"It was the first time I'd seen them away from home and I asked for a performance. I'm so disappointed not to have a clean sheet."
Junior Hoilett was taken off with an injury which is not thought to be serious, but striker Ricky Lambert came off in the first half after receiving a bad cut to his shin.
Warnock said he feared Lambert might be out for a while, but was awaiting further tests on the 34-year-old former England international.
"It looked horrific. I didn't want the lads to look at it at half-time," the Bluebirds boss said.
