Newcastle United’s clashes with Cardiff City over the years have barely been the biggest dates in each club’s sporting calendars, though today’s game has an extra layer of spice.
After a poor start to the campaign under Paul Trollope, the Bluebirds were forced to axe the young manager and replace him with the ridiculously experienced Neil Warnock.
So far, that’s something that has paid off it seems.
Though the Welsh side lost to strugglers Wigan last time out, Warnock guided them to two wins and a draw upon his arrival initially.
The Yorkshireman and Rafa Benitez share a rather fiery history, with the former blaming the latter for fielding a weakened team against Fulham when Sheffield United were battling for their lives.
BENITEZ: "We know that @CardiffCityFC is a team that has changed a bit. We are expecting a tough game." #NUFC
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 4, 2016
Still, the two shared a reasonably cordial handshake prior to a cup clash between Chelsea and Leeds in 2013 and Benitez has praised his opposite number ahead of the game.
Tweeted by Shields Gazette journalist Miles Starforth, Benitez said: ‘He has great in the Championship. We have to make sure we’re playing to our level.”
Rafa Benitez on Neil Warnock: 'He has great experience in Championship. We have make sure we're playing to our level.'. #nufc #cardiffcity
— Miles Starforth (@milesstarforth) November 4, 2016
