Cardiff 2-1 Bristol City: Neil Warnock off to winning start

By Simeon Gholam

Friday 14 October 2016 23:06, UK

Neil Warnock's Cardiff City reign got off to a winning start as they beat Bristol City 2-1 in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night.

Peter Whittingham put the Bluebirds ahead from the penalty spot in the first half at the Cardiff City Stadium, before debutant Sol Bamba doubled their lead midway through the second.

Lee Tomlin pulled one back from distance soon afterwards for Bristol City, but it was too little too late as the home side held on for victory.

The win was just Cardiff's third of the season so far in the Championship, and it lifted them out of the relegation zone to 19th ahead of the rest of the weekend action. Lee Johnson's side, meanwhile, stay fifth in the table.

Warnock had wasted no time in bringing new players to Cardiff, signing four players on free transfers since his appointment earlier this month, and two of those, Junior Hoilett and Bamba, started on Friday night.

Hoilett was certainly causing some problems down the left in the opening stages, but neither side managed to create any real opportunities in the opening 20 minutes.

It was, however, club stalwart Whittingham who opened the scoring. The 32-year-old midfielder, who has been at the Bluebirds for nearly 10 years, slotted home from the spot on 25 minutes after Craig Noone had been brought down in the box by Joe Bryan.

The atmosphere was rowdy at the Cardiff City Stadium but there was very little in the way of goalmouth action until the home side doubled their lead after 67 minutes. Bamba, who had been excellent all night, poked home from close range after Rickie Lambert's effort following a corner had bit the bar.

Bristol City were back in the game less than two minutes later, however, as Tomlin's strike from the edge of the area beat goalkeeper Ben Amos far too easily at his near post. There was controversy about it, though, as Cardiff substitute Lex Immers had gone down injured in the build-up but the away side opted to play on.

But there was to be no late rally from Bristol City, and substitute Bobby Reid missed a glorious chance in stoppage time, sending the ball over the bar from close range when it seemed easier to score.