Emotional Neil Warnock holds back tears as he applauds Cardiff fans for tributes to Emiliano Sala
The Bluebirds beat Bournemouth 2-0 in their first home game since the disappearance of the Argentine forward last week
NEIL WARNOCK thinks Emiliano Sala would have been “proud” of Cardiff’s vital Premier League win over Bournemouth.
The Bluebirds took all three points from their first home game since the plane carrying the Argentine striker disappeared last week.
Bobby Reid scored in either half as the South Wales club went within two points of safety in the top flight with a 2-0 win.
Cardiff‘s players wore yellow daffodils and the club held a minute of silent reflection before kick-off on an emotional night.
And the toll the episode has taken on the 70-year-old was obvious as he applauded the supporters at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Trying to hold back the tears, the ex-Sheffield United boss paid tribute to each corner of the ground and told his players after the game their display honoured Sala’s name.
Warnock said: “The crowd were amazing all the way around. It has been a very emotional 10 days. It just got to me in the end. It can’t be helped, can it?
“I thought [the players] were amazing. I thought they were at Arsenal.
“Today wasn’t just about surviving, I thought we played well as well because they’re a decent team Bournemouth.”
He added: “I said to the lads in there [the dressing room] ‘I know he is not here today, but Emiliano would have been proud of all of us today’.
“We acted amazing as a football club. I am pleased for the chairman Mehmet Dalman and Ken Choo, they’ve been through a lot.
“It is great for all of us and now we can get on with the season.
“In my career to have the Leicester City thing [the death of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha] and then this on top.
“I’ve known the lad a few months and you’re bound to get attached to them.
“It hit home walking across the pitch after the game. I’m proud to be the manager, definitely.”
Cardiff’s players continued the tributes to Sala by displaying a T-shirt emblazoned with an image of the 28-year-old after Reid put the hosts ahead.
Searches for the plane carrying both Sala and pilot David Ibbotson are set to resume on Sunday when an underwater operation begins in the Channel.