Cardiff City 2 Bristol City 1: Sol Bamba fires Neil Warnock to victory in his first game in charge
Peter Whittingham and Sol Bamba on the mark as struggling Welshmen lift the gloom against battling City
SOL BAMBA bagged the winner on his Cardiff debut — then walked into a storm over his eligibility.
The Ivory Coast centre-half netted the vital goal as Neil Warnock’s reign as Bluebirds boss got off to a dream start.
But within minutes of the final whistle, Bamba was at the centre of a controversy over his registration.
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Crawley midfielder Dean Cox claimed the defender’s contract with Leeds was cancelled after the summer transfer window — just like his with Leyton Orient.
But Cox, who had to go on loan at non-league Burgess Hill, is unable to play for Crawley until January.
Cox demanded the Professional Footballers’ Association investigates.
He tweeted: “Sol Bamba cancelled his contract after the window but is playing tonight? @PFA how is that possible.”
Warnock insisted he was sure Bamba was eligible and said of the claim: “That’s a little bit of bitterness isn’t it?”
Bamba signed for Cardiff this week having had his contract cancelled by Leeds, who announced it on September 1 — the day after the transfer window closed. His exit from Leeds was described by the club as due to “personal reasons”.
But as SunSport revealed last month, it was actually a decision by boss Garry Monk as he deemed the defender surplus to requirements.
The row overshadowed Warnock’s perfect start as Cardiff boss.
Peter Whittingham scored a first-half penalty before Bamba got the second.
Lee Tomlin pulled a goal back soon after, but the Robins missed the chance to go into the top two.
And Warnock, whose side went 19th, added: “It was a dream start. I thought we deserved the win but derbies are close and it was nerve-wracking. I am 67 and when that final whistle goes that’s what I’m in it for, to see a bunch of lads die for you.
“We want to climb the table, but we know we have tough games coming up.”
The Bluebirds led on 25 minutes after Craig Noone was tripped.
Bamba, one of four signings made by Warnock since he took over, doubled the lead on 67 minutes when he bundled in a rebound after Sean Morrison’s effort hit the bar.
Tomlin drilled a reply and sub Bobby Reid missed a glorious chance to level on full-time from two yards.
Robins boss Lee Johnson said: “I’m not sure if we were posey in front of the Sky cameras or if we were naive.”