Craig Noone believes Cardiff City may be closer to the play-offs than the “million miles away” suggested by his manager.
Neil Warnock has rubbished any thoughts that the Bluebirds may be capable of mounting a late charge for promotion to the Premier League this season.
Even though his team have won three successive matches and taken more points than any other club in the Championship since the turn of the year – albeit having played more matches – Warnock has dismissed claims they could close the current 13-point gap on sixth place.
But Noone, who scored the third of Cardiff’s five goals in the victory over Rotherham at the weekend, says: “To be honest, it does look a tough ask because we are still 13 points off sixth.
“He knows what he’s talking about, doesn’t he so I’m certainly not going to question him.
“But we have won three on the spin and anything can happen in this league. You just never know.”
Cardiff now have seven matches – three at home and four away – before they are scheduled to meet Sheffield Wednesday, currently sixth, on April 14.
Warnock has said it is unrealistic for fans to expect the current winning streak to continue indefinitely, but Noone says the 68-year-old has altered the atmosphere and belief at the club.
“Something is building here. Personally, I’ve seen quite a bit in the four or five years I’ve been here, and I’ve seen the good times and bad times.
“I know the way the club is now, the way the manager has got the place in a happy mood and even the fans singing his name must have felt special to him because he’s got us playing well and getting results.
“When the Gaffer first came in I found it tough and I was in and out of the side.
“But the last few games I’ve done really well and he’s certainly getting the best out of me. He tells you exactly how he sees it and if you don’t like it, tough!”
Rotherham caretaker manager Paul Warne – who served under Warnock last season when the Cardiff manager masterminded one of the great escape stories in Championship history – believes his old boss is not as he first seems.
Warne says the Rotherham side that went on an 11-match unbeaten run at the end of last season typified many of Warnock’s characteristics.
Warne said: “It was a pretty archetypal Rotherham side who fought very well for him and I learned a lot from him.
“He was different to what I thought; I thought he was going to be a really hard taskmaster, but he was more of a psychologist and cajoled the players.
“He was really good with them and he got the best out them. They wanted to do well for him, but they were also a little bit scared of him because they knew if they crossed him they probably wouldn’t get back in the team again.”
