Cardiff 'like a rash' to Fulham in Premier League promotion tussle as Neil Warnock targets crucial win

Neil Warnock can take a huge step towards killing off Fulham’s hopes of automatic promotion on Tuesday and admits in any normal season the London club would be guaranteed a place in the Premier League.

Should Slavisa Jokanovic’s side win their remaining two games against Sunderland and Birmingham they will have 91 points, which would have won them the Championship title on seven occasions since 2006.

However, Fulham might have to settle for the play-offs as they will be four points adrift of second-placed Cardiff if Warnock’s side win at Derby on Tuesday.

Fulham’s 3-0 victory over Millwall at The Den on Friday night extended their unbeaten League run to 22 games and Warnock is surprised by how fierce the race for a top-two spot has been.

“In a normal season, Fulham would have walked it by now,” said the former Crystal Palace and QPR manager. “Twenty-two games unbeaten with the players they’ve got. We must be like something they want to swat away, like a rash or something.

“But we keep going and it’s making it an interesting end to the season for TV and the media because otherwise it would just be a two-horse race and it would have been finished by now.

“The lads are all looking forward to it. We can go into this match in good spirits knowing if things don’t go right, we’ve still got two more games to have a go. We’ll be going there to try and win the game like Derby will, because both clubs have to do that.

“Sunderland being relegated, you expect Fulham to overpower them. We have to try to be in a position where we can win promotion in these three games.”

Tuesday's match was postponed last month after Derby said conditions around their ground were unsafe following heavy snow.

At the time, Warnock branded the decision “a disgrace” and suggested it suited the hosts because they had an injury crisis.

The EFL supported Derby and on Monday Warnock denied there was ill-feeling.

“When you’re fighting for what we are both fighting for there’s going to be an edge and the same with the fans,” said the manager.

“The players get on well with each other if I’m honest. It was light-hearted and there’ll be shaking hands at the end of the game, I’m sure.”

The result could also have big implications for two other London clubs. Late-season charges have left Millwall and Brentford dreaming of promotion and their chances of a play-off spot would be enhanced by a defeat for Derby.