By Paul Jones
Mick McCarthy accused Watford’s Francisco Sierralta of “cowardice” after the Cardiff City manager suffered his first defeat as Bluebirds boss.
McCarthy was distinctly unimpressed by Watford’s exuberant celebrations at the final whistle after a 94th minute winner from Adam Masina gave the Hornets a 2-1 victory.
Words were exchanged between players at the final whistle being several players jostled near the touchline and Cardiff’s Aden Flint had to be restrained by his teammates.
McCarthy said: “There was a guy who got booked for fouling Flinty in the box. He just ran and screamed in his face and ran off like a big coward.
“Maybe if you go and push Flinty you should stand up and see the recriminations.
“I’m glad he didn’t! Because Flinty might have boxed him one and he would have had a red card.
“Listen, I understand their celebrations at the end of the game, but I do think it’s good to be magnanimous in victory as well.”
It was McCarthy’s first defeat since he took charge at Cardiff and brought to an end his 11-match unbeaten spell.
After six straight victories, the Bluebirds have won only once in their last four and Barnsley’s shock win at Bournemouth means Cardiff are now seven points adrift of the play-off places.
McCarthy jokingly apologised for winning the Championship’s February manager of the month award and added: “If you’re going to get beat I’d prefer to get beat after 11 games than after the first two or three.
“The lads have been fabulous. I should have refused the manager of the month award. I should have given it back to them. It’s the kiss of death isn’t it?
“Now it’s ended with a 94th-minute free-kick is a right kick in the whatsits.
“I’d like to apologise to all the fans for winning the manager of the month award!”
Cardiff had taken an early lead through Sierralta’s own goal, but were pegged back within a minute when Nathaniel Chalobah struck an excellent drive after making space in the penalty box.
Watford dominated possession, but the scores stayed level until injury time when Cardiff keeper Dillon Phillips appeared to be deceived by Masina’s dipping, swerving free-kick from wide on the right.
McCarthy revealed Phillips had admitted he was at fault for the goal which blemished another otherwise excellent performance by the man who has usurped Alex Smithies for the starting spot.
“It was very cruel and tough for the lads having worked so hard to keep a good team at bay for a good while. I thought the lads acquitted themselves very well,” said McCarthy.
Xisco Munoz proud after Watford beat Cardiff City https://t.co/CKGiDiO15t #WatfordFC 💛❤🖤
— Watford FC News (@watfordfcnews) March 13, 2021
“Then just at the very end they get the free-kick and poor old Dillon’s wondering how it happened.
“He did hit it particularly well. It’s just one of those things that happening so I won’t be too hard on Dillon, that’s for sure.
“Dillon’s saying he should have saved it. if he’s saying that then im not going to disagree with him, but he did hit it well.
“He saved two penalties a few weeks ago and we were all patting him on the back. I’ve no recriminations with him whatsoever.
The win lifted Watford back into second-place in the Championship, above Swansea City on goal difference, although the Swans have a game in hand.
Watford’s Spanish manager Xisco Munoz said: “The emotion was top on the pitch but now we need calm. It is a very important three points from a very important game.
Late drama sees @WatfordFC climb in to the top two!#EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/tTQ1WcOPTb
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) March 13, 2021
“We must have humility and our feet must stay on the ground. If we can continue to work with the same ambition then we will see if we can complete our objective.
“We knew we were playing warriors today. They have very good players with intensity and are very dangerous at set-pieces so we had to be fully focused at all times.
“We were brilliant, it is difficult to stop those situations away from home, but we had more possession, control and clean cut chances.”
“We knew we were playing warriors today. They have very good players with intensity and are very dangerous at set-pieces so we had to be fully focused at all times.”