Derby County host Cardiff City this weekend.
Derby County midfielder Bradley Johnson believes Cardiff City have a proven manager in Neil Warnock and suggests that it is no surprise to see the Welsh side battling for automatic promotion, dcfc.co.uk report.
The Rams host the Bluebirds this weekend in what many felt would be a crucial encounter in the race for automatic promotion, yet poor form over the past six weeks has seen Derby slip away.
Gary Rowett’s men were in second place in January, yet just one win in their last nine Championship games has seen them slip to fifth place while Cardiff head in to the fixture on a six-game winning run.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Johnson explains why he is not surprised by Cardiff’s position, lauding promotion expert Warnock.
“They have a proven manager in Neil Warnock, especially in this league. He has had a terrific career in management and has got several promotions under his belt as well,” Johnson said.
“He gets his teams playing and some people might not think it is pretty football, but it is effective and you need to just look at Cardiff now and where they are.”
Cardiff are now strong favourites to claim second spot, yet they still have to navigate themselves past some tricky fixtures including trips to Sheffield United, Aston Villa and of course Derby this coming Sunday.
Warnock’s sides are not exactly pleasing on the eye, but without doubt they are efficient and their current record of conceding just 31 goals in 37 league matches is the best in the Championship.
Derby will know they will have to work very hard to create chances against such a sound defence, while keeping tabs on Junior Hoilett and Kenneth Zohore will be a testing task for defenders Richard Keogh and Curtis Davies.
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