WARNOCK: “WE HAD TO WORK REALLY HARD”

The Bluebirds recorded a battling 0-0 draw against Brighton and Hove Albion at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Shortly after the final whistle, Cardiff manager Neil Warnock offered his thoughts to the assembled press and media.

“We had to work really hard today”, began Neil. “I don’t think there was anybody that didn’t give everything. We knew we had to work hard because they’re such a good team and they can rip people apart.

“We had to be well organised and try to catch them on the break if we could. I felt that the boys did exactly what we’d been doing all week really and I thought Freddy [Gounongbe] did well on his own up top.

“I thought, overall, the midfield held their ground and won their duels and at the back we stuck our heads in and defended well.

“It was good to keep a clean sheet; we were against a good side. Brighton had their moments but I never really felt threatened if I’m honest. Everybody has to contribute and I felt we all did today.”

The manager was also full of praise for winger Kadeem Harris who came into the starting line-up and impressed with his direct running and committed approach.

“He’s done really well in training”, stated Neil. “I said to him on Tuesday that I would be playing him on Saturday. I felt that he deserved it, one or two lads have lost a bit of confidence, which they’ll get back, but he’s been flying at the moment.

“He got through a lot of work defensively as well. His defending didn’t look like a weakness and I thought he did ever so well against a very attacking full back. In the end the lad [Gaetan Bong] got a red card for chopping him down.”