By Jordan Jones
CARDIFF City manager says he is expecting Sunday’s derby match with Swansea City to be a special occasion.
In the 70-year-old’s illustrious managerial career, the Yorkshireman has been involved in a number of high-profile derbies, including the Steel City City Derby, where he managed boyhood club Sheffield United.
Now Warnock will take part in his first south Wales Derby as Cardiff City go toe-to-toe with Swansea City for the first time in five years.
“They are always special atmospheres,” said Warnock.
“It’s why we are all involved really. Your heart beats a bit quicker and you have a few more nerves the night before.
“I’ve been involved at Palace and QPR with London derbies and Sheffield derbies were special. I’ve been told what it’s like and I’m expecting it to be the same.
“I know what the other derbies meant to people and how much people look forward to it. Even though it’s a Championship, not a Premiership derby.
“I always think it’s Wacky Races, derby matches. I think it will be a good game.”
Warnock, who has been in charge since 2016, says he won’t need to provide motivation for his players for the derby. Instead, the players will need to maintain their discipline.
Cardiff have the fifth-fewest yellow cards in the Championship this season and a Bluebirds have yet to see a player sent off in this campaign.
“I don’t think either manager will have to do a lot more motivation,” added Warnock.
“What you have to remind players is not to lose your head
‘You can get carried away. That’s what I’ve had in derby matches, people doing something out of character.”
Five years on from the last fixture, there is no Cardiff player in the current squad that has had a taste of the south Wales Derby.
It is a different story for Swansea. Declan John featured for Cardiff in the last derby, which resulted in a 3-0 victory for the Swans.
Former Bluebirds loanee Wayne Routledge has played for both sides and has the experience, alongside Nathan Dyer who has scored on multiple occasions against Cardiff.
“We haven’t got anyone who’s played in a South Wales Derby but I think we’ve got players with the character that you need in derbies,” Warnock told Cardiff’s official website.
“I look at the likes of Marlon Pack and Sean Morrison. I think you need the characters to stand up and be counted.
“It might not be the big names though; there’s always a hero. They’ve all got an opportunity to be remembered for years to come.
“Who’s to say Peltier won’t score from 40 yards – that would be a miracle!
“Strange things happen in derbies. What I have emphasised is let’s go and enjoy the atmosphere and thrive upon it.”
The Bluebirds will be without Junior Hoilett who sustained a strained hamstring injury in the 2-2 draw at Millwall on Tuesday evening.
Sol Bamba, made a playing return after recovering from an ACL injury, featured in a 2-0 victory for Cardiff’s Under-23s side over Colchester United on Monday.
However, Warnock will only call upon the 34-year-old if anything happens to Aden Flint or Sean Morrison in their preparations for the Derby.
Leandro Bacuna will return to the Bluebirds fold after missing the Millwall fixture. The 28-year-old was substituted after just 34 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday on Friday.
“Either won’t be involved. Junior has a strained hamstring and Sol, it’s not the kind of game to bring him in. If anything happened to the centre-halves he would come in. Junior will have it scanned this afternoon.
“Bacuna is back. He phoned up and had a bad stomach (before Millwall) and the doctor decided it was best he didn’t mix with the lads.”
