By Paul Jones
Under-fire Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy will be hoping to halt an alarming run of six straight Championship defeats, when his side travel to Craven Cottage to face third place Fulham this evening (Wednesday).
This is Cardiff’s worst league return since 1985 and the fans are stunned that the veteran boss is yet to receive his marching orders.
Former Cardiff players, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harry Wilson now play their football at Fulham and could inflict further pain on their former club tonight.
Reid and Wilson both have the creativity that this Cardiff team are desperately crying out for and this could prove to be the decisive difference between the two teams.
It really is hard to believe that Mick McCarthy has still got a job
— David Goddard 🏴 (@DaioGoddard) October 19, 2021
The board may not have issued him with an ultimatum ahead of the South Wales derby on Sunday, but it is understood they have put their foot down this week.
The 3-0 defeat in Swansea has reportedly now left McCarthy with two games to save his job.
The fans have turned on him, chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ during the Bluebirds 4-0 defeat to West Brom, and he will need all the experience of his 1,000+ games in management to stay afloat.
Before the game at Swansea he was pretty matter of fact about his position, underlining the fact he fully understand “the rules of engagement”.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan has already been more tolerant that in the past with him.
Neil Harris went after a run of six successive defeats last year and Warnock departed under his own steam after only one win in six games in November 2019. Prior to that Paul Trollope left after six defeats in seven games.
“I’ll keep doing the job and keep trying to get the results. Let’s hope on Wednesday it goes in our favour,” said McCarthy.
“Fulham are one of the best teams in the league, but then this league throws up some strange results. All we can do is stick together.
“Conceding at one end and not scoring at the other is not a good recipe for success.”
Is it a financial issue or is his compensation package less if in relegation zone? I can imagine if Mick McCarthy is still in charge on Saturday there will be a sizable minority cheering on Warnock and especially Bamba.
— Mark D (@Atticus_75) October 18, 2021
Cardiff have conceded 15 goals in their run of six losses and have scored only once. That has seen them drop to 20th in the Championship table and left them three points away from the relegation zone.
If this dismal run continues, it could be former Cardiff manager Neil Warnock who delivers the fatal blow to McCarthy’s spell in charge.
Ironically, 44 years ago McCarthy was cleaning Warnock’s boots whilst playing as an apprentice at Barnsley, but it could turn out to be Warnock who gives McCarthy the boot this weekend.