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Neil Warnock Planning Ahead For A Big Start Cardiff City Start In 2017-18

Gaffer Neil Warnock at Cardiff 2019 Credit: Cardiff FC

Gaffer Neil Warnock at Cardiff 2019 Credit: Cardiff FC

Neil Warnock has 11 Championship fixtures left to finalise his thinking for a 2017-18 promotion push. The Bluebirds manager has already committed to leading a challenge and says: “We don’t want to mess about next season – we want a solid start.” Cardiff City are comfortably placed in mid-table no man’s land, 15 points outside […]

Neil Warnock has 11 Championship fixtures left to finalise his thinking for a 2017-18 promotion push.

The Bluebirds manager has already committed to leading a challenge and says: “We don’t want to mess about next season – we want a solid start.”

Cardiff City are comfortably placed in mid-table no man’s land, 15 points outside the challenging for the play-offs and in no real danger of being dragged into a relegation battle.

“There are 11 fixtures left and each game is a chance to assess what is needed,” said Warnock.

“I’m looking all the time to see what we need to have a good go next year.

“We don’t want to mess about next year. We want to start well at the start of the season and look forward to coming to places like this.

“I learned one or two things from the QPR match when we dominated and somehow lost 2-1 when we should have won. I made up my mind on the odd position.

“We are still looking at exactly what action is needed at the end of this season.”

Warnock takes City to play Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park join Tuesday.

The hosts are just outside the relegation places and Warnock says: “Blackburn won against Wigan on Saturday. It will be good to go up there and try to get the points.”

Cardiff were in the Championship relegation places when Warnock took over in October 2016,  but are now 12th in the table and 12 points clear of the drop zone.

Warnock revealed he has ‘three or four’ players who suffered knocks at Queens Park Rangers, while Aron Gunnarsson played against QPR despite not taking part in training during the week due to illness.

Ricky Lambert, Bruno Manga, Rhys Healey and Lee Peltier are all ruled out of the Blackburn match by injuries.

More than 1,800 supporters followed the Bluebirds to Queens Park Rangers, while there will be around 200 at Rovers.

Possible line-ups, Cardiff City: McGregor, Connolly, Morrison (capt), Bamba, Richards, Noone, Gunnarsson, Ralls, K Harris, Hoilett or Pilkington, Zohore.

Blackburn Rovers: Steele, Nyambe, Lenihan, Mulgrew, Williams, Feeney, Lowe, Guthrie, Conway, Emnes, Gallagher.

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