Neil Warnock believes Tiger Woods’ stunning Masters triumph can act as inspiration for relegation-threatened Cardiff to mount their own comeback success story.
Warnock was watching on Sunday as Woods wrote one of the greatest sporting chapters by claiming a fifth green jacket at Augusta, 11 years after his previous major win.
Cardiff’s hopes of avoiding Premier League relegation also appear fanciful with a five-point gap to safety and their remaining five fixtures including games against Liverpool and Manchester United.
But Cardiff would cut the gap to two points by winning at Brighton tomorrow night, although Chris Hughton’s Seagulls do have a game in hand.
“We just have to look at the golf and at what Tiger has done – amazing,” Warnock said of Woods’ fifth Augusta triumph, which came after multiple back surgeries and personal problems had threatened to end the 43-year-old’s career.
“Nobody gave him a chance either, he has been written off that many times and we have.
“Obviously over the last few weeks we have felt sorry for ourselves a few times.
“We haven’t got time to do that (at Brighton) and if it’s not good enough then we accept it.
“But this is an opportunity to give ourselves a chance till the end of the season. We have to grab that.”
Defeat would leave Cardiff eight points adrift of safety and seemingly doomed to an instant return to the Sky Bet Championship.
Cardiff host title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday, and visit Fulham and host Crystal Palace before making a final-day trip to United.
Asked if Brighton was the point of no return after Saturday’s 2-0 defeat at Burnley, Warnock replied: “Yes I think you can say that.
“I thought we had to beat Burnley and and Brighton if I am honest, so we are already one down.
“So it becomes even more important for both teams. I think they must feel the same.
“I thought we were a little bit apprehensive with the occasion (at Burnley), and the occasion at Brighton is going to be even bigger.”
Cardiff have been on the wrong end of several contentious refereeing decisions in recent games.
The Bluebirds saw three penalty appeals turned down at Burnley, including one where referee Mike Dean reversed his original decision to award a spot-kick.
But Warnock, who confirmed he is to contest three Football Association charges over remarks he made about Premier League officials following the 2-1 home defeat to Chelsea last month, said: “We have to make our own luck.
“We have for the last 18 months and I’m not expecting any luck.
“When you look at the league table you’re not going to be bubbly, but you have to be optimistic.
“We have had that many kicks in the teeth in the last four months and we keep bouncing back really.”
