Neil Warnock reckons the 2-0 win at Leeds United is the best of his time at Cardiff City – and the greatest away display of his long managerial career.
The Bluebirds chief relished his return to Elland Road – where he was in charge for 14 months before leaving in 2013 – to see off Garry Monk’s promotion hopefuls.
Sean Morrison and Kenneth Zohore struck in the second-half to lift Cardiff up to 14th in the Championship table easing any fears of being dragged back into the relegation zone.
Warnock said: “By a mile. It’s the best performance since I’ve been at the club.
“It’s the best away performance, in the circumstances, probably since I’ve been a manager because it was almost complete.”
“We set our stall out, they’re a good side.
“We had to be on top of our game really and I thought the first 20 minutes were really helpful, we quietened the crowd a little bit and didn’t give them much space in midfield to pick the holes, which they’re very good at.
“The longer the game went on the more comfortable we became. From one to 11 today we were fantastic.”
Warnock was not the only ex-Leeds boss to enjoy his return as he was joined assistant Kevin Blackwell who had just over two years in charge of the Yorkshire club.
“I brought Blacky because I knew he’d get some stick! Whereas I didn’t get any,” 67-year-old Warnock joked.
“To be fair the crowd was very good with us. It was super today. I know they’ve gone home disappointed but they haven’t got to forget where they’ve come from.
“They’ve got a vibrant, young side who had problems they couldn’t solve today but it is an exciting place to be at the minute.
“I’m really pleased for them because the crowd were always waiting for this type of thing to happen and I think it’s finally going to be here.”
Former Swansea player and manager Monk, hailed by Warnock as Manager of the Season, admitted it had been a difficult day for his side.
Monk said: ”Frustrating day and frustrating result for us.
“It was a classic away performance – we were prepared for it but we couldn’t take it to the latter stages where you can win that type of game.
“This team are new to that type of challenge who showed the respect we’ve earned here by coming here to frustrate and defend well.
“It was a day for us to be patient but we made two mistakes and it’s cost us two goals.”
