Just as the battle for the top 4 continues among the top clubs, same thing applicable to team in the bottom of the league fighting for relegation. Cardiff City see their hope of escaping the relegation stunned by a late and dramatic come back from Chelsea after Cesar Azpilicueta scored an offiside goal before Ruben Loftus-Cheek scored a header in the late minutes of the match.
Honestly speaking, if there is any manager that need to be console during the weekend matches, it should be Neil Warnock because he couldn't hide his feelings towards the officiating and was full of aggression. Cardiff City before the match were on 28 points and they occupied the 18th position with 30 matches been played while Burnley occupied the 17th position with 33 points after defeating Wolverhampton 2-0 at home taking their games to 32 matches.
A win for Cardiff City will see them putting pressure on Burnley because that will take their Point to 31 points in 31 matches with just 2 points separating them despite the fact that Cardiff still have a game to play to balance the whole thing. So getting the maximum points against Chelsea would have placed them in good condition to escape the relegation.
I personally don't think Cardiff City will be having the mindset of having 3 points against Chelsea before the match but it was Chelsea that gave them the hope of get maximum points in that encounter with the poor display Chelsea put up in the game. Actually, Sarri deserve to pay the price by resting his star players leaving the likes of Hazard and Ngolo Kante on the bench for no tangible reason when the fight for top 4 is still hot.
Chelsea really start the game very well, winning possessions as usual but were not clinical upfront. The first half was full of some drama and chances from both teams, Cardiff would have been awarded a penalty when Rudiger brought down Sean Morrison. Same thing goes to Chelsea in the earlier minute when Gunnarsson pulled down Rudiger in the box but Pawson failed to award both penalties. Pedro effort also went wide while Jacob Murphy was not lucky to have put Cardiff ahead after dribbling pass Alonso and it was a goalless draw in the first half.
The second half resumed and it was Cardiff who took the lead in 46 minutes by Camarasa's volley after Peltier delivered a brilliant cross that found him in the box. Sarri introduced Hazard immediately after the goal but Cardiff continue to defend well before Azpilicueta equalized from an offside position which makes Neil Warnock to react to the referee and the linesman decision after allowing the goal to count. Neil also believe that Rudiger deserve a red card in that game after bringing down Zohore but it was a yellow card instead.
The game look like is going to end draw before Ruben Loftus-cheek scored a headed in 90+1 minute and break the heart of Neil Warnock side that is fighting for relegation. Neil was found after the match expressing his anger by words. He said in a post match conference that VAR( Video Assistance Referee) needs to be implemented in the league so that human errors can be eradicated and resentful due to unjust treatment will not be fined for their rightful shout in an uncontrollable anger which he believes was the major reason why a club like Cardiff City fighting for relegation couldn't win against Chelsea.
Neil Warnock went ahead to defend his boys as he believes it is due to the act of injustice that cost them the 3 points because they did everything needed for them to do but were punished due to bad officiating and lack of VAR in the league. Cardiff is now 5 points behind Burley and will now be facing another big test on Wednesday when they will be facing Manchester City.
My words for Neil Warnock
Well, I can feel what you are feeling as a coach trying to rescue his team from the relegation ocean. Most importantly when you are leading to a team playing badly and later lost the match. I believe the word "impossible" is just a word found in the dictionary of the fool, so don't think you can't survive the pressure against Manchester City. In fact making everything right against the Citizens should be your major concern now rather than the loose at Chelsea because if you can come out with maximum points against Manchester City, that will really boost your morale against your next opponent and cement your hope but loosing again to Manchester City may just be a confirmation back to the Championship. Trust me Neil Warnock, you can still survive it, all you need is to re-strategize.
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I hope you find this post interesting and educating, until then, I remain my humble self @oxygen02. Thanks For Reading👍
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