Bluebirds boss was at boiling point after a refereeing error allowed Chelsea to come from behind to beat his relegation-threatened side
Sponsored by
AN incensed Neil Warnock could hand Pep Guardiola a title race advantage after vowing to play Cardiff's kids against Man City.
Bluebirds boss was at boiling point after a refereeing error allowed Chelsea to come from behind to beat his relegation-threatened side.
Cardiff face crucial trips to Burnley and Brighton, both hovering above the trap door, over the next fortnight after taking on champions City on Wednesday.
And Warnock was already waving the white flag, as the 70-year-old raged: "We keep getting knock-backs. I will probably play the U23s on Wednesday against Manchester City and try to keep it down to 10 or 11.
"It doesn't matter who you play at the minute, it is who has a flag in his hand and who has a whistle."
Veteran Warnock had been left fuming after officials failed to rule out Cesar Azpilicueta's equaliser for Chelsea despite the defender clearly being offside.
But the Cardiff chief will risk being hit with a hefty fine should he make wholesale changes at the Etihad in midweek.
The Premier League set a precedent back in 2010 when Wolves were hit with a £25,000 fine after Mick McCarthy made 10 changes to his team taking on Man United.
But the changes would have a greater impact on the top of the table.
Warnock suggested a weakened Cardiff side would inevitably lose against City which would see Guardiola's team leapfrog the Reds and go two points clear.
Focusing on his own team's fate, he added: "If I was a Burnley, Southampton or a Brighton fan, they will be absolutely loving it today.
"I've had one kick in the teeth after another this season and the players have as well. But we've always bounced back. So we'll probably play the 23s at City and get ready for Burnley."
