Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has made a strong appeal for supporters to get behind the club for Saturday’s huge clash with Aston Villa.
The Bluebirds embark upon one of the biggest tests of the season on Saturday with Championship favourites Aston Villa the visitors at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Neil Warnock’s men head into the clash on the back of two wins from two with victory over Burton Albion in the league and then Portsmouth in the cup.
The Cardiff City Stadium is set to welcome a crowd of more around 22,000 on Saturday afternoon, and that’s just what Neil Warnock wants.
“We’re gradually getting the fans back and you can sense that around different areas,” said the Bluebirds boss.
“We gave them (Aston Villa) another few thousand tickets, it wasn’t my idea because I wouldn’t have given them any, but it will make a difference and I’d love everyone on our side to bring a friend, to get it up to 25,000 and to get behind us.”
Aston Villa are set to be one of the big-hitters this season having acquired the services of superstar defender John Terry over the summer, adding to the plethora of talent which struggled in the last campaign.
Steve Bruce’s men are favourites to take the league title and they are certainly favourites to win on Saturday, despite their dreadful away record of winning just six games since the start of the 2015/16 season.
Warnock is relishing the underdog status though, and he thinks the tag will benefit his side throughout the season.
“If we lose to villa, it won’t be a shock will it?” he added.
“But being underdogs is the best thing we can be and I think that will help us really. I could see yesterday how much the lads are looking forward to it.
“Villa are still one of those teams - when I was a kid all those years ago, I used to love the colour of the shirts and they were always a top team, I think that’s why Steve (Bruce) went there because it’s a massive club, but I’m looking forward to seeing how we cope.
“We haven’t got that sort of money but I’m pleased with the players I’ve got, and Steve has a different job to me because he has to keep them all happy when they all expect to play, but I think tomorrow will be a good test.”
Cardiff have allowed Aston Villa the majority of what is usually their family stand for tomorrow’s fixture, moving supporters to accommodate up to 5,000 visiting supporters.
The visiting side are only said to have sold around 3,000 for the fixture so far, but Cardiff City fans are also buying in their numbers.
The Cardiff City Stadium has only seen attendances of more than 20,000 on rare occasions for club fixtures in recent years, but Saturday is seen as a big occasion with renewed optimism around the city.
However, Warnock still wants more home supporters behind his team this weekend and he’s made a passionate appeal to supporters.
“They will get value for money and if you have any feeling for the club, now is the time to come on board,” pleaded the 68-year-old.
“The bookies put us in the bottom half - Villa will make a right noise tomorrow, and we’ve got to match that.
“I think fans know now that it’s not just a one-off and we’re not just talking a good game, their going to get good value for money whatever the result and they can be proud of their own club.
“That’s what I’m delighted with really, putting the pride back into the club for the fans, and the more people who come into the turnstiles, the better for us.”