Advertisement

Neil Harris says Cardiff's 'wounded animals' can produce play-off miracle against Fulham

Fulham's Anthony Knockaert takes on Cardiff City's Joe Ralls and Joe Bennett during the Sky Bet Championship play-off match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. - PA/ Nick Potts
Fulham's Anthony Knockaert takes on Cardiff City's Joe Ralls and Joe Bennett during the Sky Bet Championship play-off match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff. - PA/ Nick Potts

Neil Harris believes his wounded animal of a Cardiff side are ready to produce a Championship play-off miracle when they travel to Fulham on Thursday.

Cardiff manager Harris took a “big kick in the nuts” when his side were beaten 2-0 by Scott Parker’s men in Monday’s first leg. It leaves Cardiff with it all to do for the return fixture.

Harris admits his team’s first-leg defeat left him on the floor, but he says his team are ready to right those wrongs. “I have picked myself up and my players too. We are being written off and questioned. We can’t wait to respond and we will respond,” he said.

“I have spoken to the players and reinforced positive messages. We have won six of our last eight away games. No Championship team has won more away points than us since I’ve taken charge. We have the ability.

“It’s not going to be easy and we are up against a good side, but we’re up for the challenge. We have got a long way to come back, but we have the ability to come back.

“I have tried to take the pressure off my players and put it on Fulham. We are the biggest underdog because we have the most to do, but do we fear it? No. We want to go out there and provide a miracle. We can be a dangerous and wounded animal and we have to show our resilience now.”

All the signs point to Fulham making it to Wembley for Tuesday’s play-off final. No side has ever come from two goals down in a Championship play-off and Cardiff have won only one of their last 12 meetings with Fulham.

Parker’s men played the Welsh side off the park in Monday’s first leg at Cardiff City Stadium, but still Harris remains positive. He will make a last-minute call on his team with such a short turnaround between the two legs and mercurial forward Lee Tomlin is his biggest concern as he battles ongoing knee and hip issues.

Striker Robert Glatzel missed two big chances at the start of the first leg and Harris knows his team can’t afford such profligacy again. He has drawn inspiration from his team’s revival to draw 3-3 at Championship winners Leeds and other impressive away trips this season, but what should worry Harris is that Fulham appear to have the measure of Cardiff.

They also downed them 2-0 at home on July 10. “Records are there to be broken in football,” said Harris. “In my two play-offs as a manager I have been behind and I take solace from that fact. My teams have responded in difficult circumstances.

“It’s not ideal to be 2-0 down, but I have faith in my players to deliver. The first goal will be vital in the tie, but we don’t have to chase the game from the first whistle. We have to score at least two goals. We have to make sure we have enough attacking threats on the pitch at the start of the game but also at the end.”