Warnock Predicting Chess-Like Battle With Rams

Neil Warnock told the media that he is predicting Saturday’s meeting with Derby County will be ‘more like a chess game’ in comparison to Tuesday’s gung-ho clash with Leeds United.

The Rams travel to the Welsh Capital looking to head into the second international break of the 2017/18 season on a high, kick-off: 3pm.

In order to do that, Gary Rowett’s side will have to overcome the Sky Bet Championship’s early- season pace setters.

Cardiff top the second tier table having won seven of their 10 matches so far – their latest an impressive 3-1 victory over Leeds United, who resided second at the time, on Tuesday night.

Warnock, the Cardiff boss, says he is expecting a completely different test from Derby and is prepared for a more tactical battle, compared to the ferocious, end-to-end, nature of their clash with the Whites.

The 68-year-old told the media: “You can’t replicate that, it was the atmosphere, it won’t be dark with floodlight with zip on pitch.

“It’ll be Saturday afternoon with 19,000 I suppose. It will be more of a chess game than it was gung ho on Tuesday, you can’t replicate it. We have to be professional and try and get the right result.

“They know what I think they can do if they all do it, if we do that we’re difficult to play against - we have all the attributes when we’re all at it and my job is to try and get them all at it.”

Assessing the Rams, Warnock is still expecting them to be amongst the teams chasing promotion come May 2018.

Rowett’s men sit in 15th having played nine League games, but the Cardiff boss feels they are only one good run of results away from turning their fortunes around.

Warnock added: “They’ll be up there. We looked at their likely team last night, when you’ve got people like (Bradley) Johnson, (Tom) Huddlestone, (Matej) Vydra, (Andreas) Weimann, I think Roy Keane and Martin O’Neill going to come tomorrow to take a look at (Richard) Keogh.

“I think they’ll be up there (near the) top two, but there’s long way to go. Look at Villa, just outside top six now and everyone was doom and gloom a few weeks ago.

“Anyone can win four on a row or lose four in a row. That’s why we have to enjoy this while we can.”