Neil Warnock was in a buoyant mood after watching Cardiff City overcome Southampton 2-1 in a thrilling Premier League relegation six-pointer. Goals from Sol Bamba and Kenneth Zohore proved the difference , despite what appeared to be a late equaliser from Saints' Jack Stephens. This is the full transcript of Warnock's jubilant post match press conference: Neil that was a fabulous win - and you had to win it twice? Warnock: "Yeah. When the equaliser went in, you saw their dugout response and then I looked at Sol and one or two of the others with their heads down. I shouted at them and they perked up straight away. "And we went again. We could have put the ball in the corner from the free kick at the end, but we had to get it in the box and have a go. We said the next few games were all winnable games. "We worked on our tactics this week and I thought we were spot on. "We knew Southampton would come out of the blocks, we had to nullify their threats to start with and we knew there would be more gaps in the second half, because of the situation. We were 4/1 in a two-horse race with the bookies, but these are difficult games when you're playing against teams like us. We found the same against Huddersfield a few weeks ago, everybody expected us to win and it's so difficult to just turn a performance on." (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency) You had a very strong bench today? "Absolutely and all three contributed. All three subs were brilliant today. "Ken has been like that for three weeks, he's been back to himself, his eyes were bright. Ken looked really sharp, Victor couldn't start but he did well and made the goal and Bacuna fitted in like he'd been there all his life." Has the Emiliano Sala situation galvanised the dressing room? "The answer is I don't honestly know. "We've won two on the trot, but we should have beaten Arsenal and won three on the trot. We had 19 shots and open goals - that was the first game after the tragedy. But we've been superb in the three games since the tragedy. "Emiliano was a fabulous lad when I met him and I think it's appropriate that we came down here with the black armbands on and put in a performance like that. We were determined and while we're limited, you can't question the character of our lads, they've got bags of heart." Niasse has gone under the radar but done well? "He was superb. I thought he was a bit sloppy in the first 20 minutes - I had to give him a bit of a rocket - but he was a lot better that last 20 minutes and did well in the second half. "It was nice to see the substitutes make an impact." How do you see the relegation picture now? "We're still going to be odds on favourites to go down, but we shouldn't have gone up last year - that was a miss with the bookies. Now we should only get 11 points according to some pundits who know the game inside-out, then we should be adrift at Christmas and we're not. "So we keep surprising people. "The only people we don't surprise are me and the fans. "There's not going to be a better set of fans this season - because I've never heard anything like it. "If we never won another point the fans would clap us off at the end of the season. It's great for the lads to know that if they make a mistake, the fans aren't going to get on their backs." How much did the club need some joy after the tragedy? "Well you saw the response. The fans keep pinching themselves I think. "But I don't want to sell the players too short. We've got loads of heart and character and commitment but we've got some good players as well at the club. (Image: Getty Images) "Tactically we've got to be better than opponents, we've got to be spot-on. That's why it was a disappointment to lose the goal as we did. "But instead of closing the shop up, we came back and got the winner - and that made it even better. "I was really pleased for the chairman Mehmet Dalman and Ken Choo, who were here today. I looked up when we came off and they were quite emotional. They've been super." How tough has this last month been for you personally? "I've had 40 years of it, not just the last month! "When my missus and me talk, you can't replicate that feeling (of a last minute winner) when you retire. It's been my life since I was 17 now, footballing and then managing, so it's quite frightening to think what happens next. "I'm going to enjoy every minute while I'm here, because I've never been loved as much as I am here - and that's a lovely feeling. "I feel I'm giving back what the fans are giving me - and that's a chance. And we've always got a chance." And a word on Joe Ralls? "He's been outstanding hasn't he? Man Of The Match in the last three games for me. He's one of them who you don't notice, he's a manager's player. "I give him 9/10 most weeks but he'll always get 6/10 in the papers because he's Joe Ralls. (Image: Gareth Everett/Huw Evans Agency) "He goes about his business without you noticing him. "An unsung hero - but there's a few of them" Callum Paterson is one of those? And Lee Peltier? "Paterson is the biggest moaner I've ever known, but if he isn't moaning there's something wrong. "It's one of them - where do you play him? He carried us up front for three months and it's only when you see someone like Niasse, and you see Ken come on and do what he did, that you realise how we've kept in that hunt for safety without a striker.<doc-sep>Cardiff secured a vital victory in their pursuit of Premier League safety by concluding a traumatic week with a 2-1 win at Southampton thanks to Kenneth Zohore's dramatic stoppage-time finish. Their struggle against relegation has been largely overshadowed by the confirmation of the death of their striker Emiliano Sala, whose body was this week recovered from the crashed plane that had been taking him to Cardiff, and they paid him the ultimate tribute by securing three important points. Victory crucially takes Cardiff out of the bottom three and above Southampton, who had been undefeated in the top flight since the turn of the year under their new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. It also ensured successive top-flight victories for the Bluebirds for the first time since April 1962, and came after the hosts had already pulled level in stoppage time. Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Show all 12 1 /12 Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Cardiff City striker Emiliano Sala is missing and feared dead after an aeroplane carrying him and one other person went missing over the English Channel AFP/Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala He first moved to France in 2011 before joining Bordeaux and making his debut in 2012 Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala arrived at Bordeaux after playing for Club Proyecto Crecer in Argentina Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala In Ligue 1, Sala found himself going up against some of the best-known defenders such as PSG’s David Luiz Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala He would join Caen on loan in 2015 Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala While with Bordeaux, Sala also spent time on loan with US Orleans and Chamois Niort Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala In 2015, Sala secured a move to Ligue 1 side Nantes EPA Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala played 130 times for Nantes, scoring 48 goals in all competitions AFP/Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala His form in France saw him catch the eye of a number of clubs around Europe AFP Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala was the fifth-highest goalscorer in Ligue 1 this season with 12 goals in 19 games Getty Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala agreed to join Cardiff in a club-record £15m deal on Saturday 19 January Cardiff City Emiliano Sala: Career in pictures Emiliano Sala Sala’s flight to Cardiff went missing on Monday 21 January and is believed to have crashed into the English Channel Getty It had taken 38 minutes before either team, perhaps influenced by the emotion and tension of the occasion, registered a shot on target, let alone threatened to score. After a minute's silence in honour of the late Sala, both began with significant tempo but without creativity. That they both remain at risk of relegation no doubt contributed to the uninspiring balance that had existed between them until Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg produced that first strike on goal. After chesting a loose ball towards the edge of the area and shooting towards the near post, he watched as the diving Neil Etheridge saved and then as his team-mates responded with greater intent. Sol Bamba puts Cardiff in front at St Mary's (Reuters) Jan Bednarek attempted a through-ball towards Nathan Redmond that was routinely collected by Etheridge, and then Redmond played a one-two with Hojbjerg before sending a low cross towards goal that was deflected by Sol Bamba into the goalkeeper's hands. An effort early into the second half from the hosts' Yan Valery, who worked his way into the area and created space before shooting straight at Etheridge, furthered Southampton's momentum, and Cardiff responded by introducing Zohore and Leandro Bacuna to ease the growing pressure. Harry Arter led one attack down the left that came to little, but in the 69th minute after winning a left-wing corner the visitors unexpectedly took the lead. When Joe Ralls crossed into the penalty area, Callum Patterson headed on towards Bamba, and from directly in front of goal the club captain stretched his right foot to reach the loose ball and poke it beyond the diving Alex McCarthy and in. Jack Stephens thought he'd earned a point (Action Images via Reuters) Bacuna swiftly tested McCarthy with another effort, struck powerfully from 25 yards as the goalkeeper parried wide, and Southampton were then denied a deserved equalising goal. When Valery ran into the area and forced a fine save from Etheridge, Charlie Austin's rebound was blocked by Lee Peltier to Mohamed Elyounoussi, who also struck before also watching Peltier block. It was in the first minute of stoppage time that Southampton appeared to have secured a draw. James Ward-Prowse's corner was headed by Austin towards the back post, from where the unmarked Jack Stephens seamlessly finished. After two further minutes and following another attack with both teams stretched, Arter's misplaced shot fell to Victor Camarasa, who fed Zohore before watching the striker finish from close range and inside the far right post to secure all three points. PA<doc-sep>Two Southampton fans were reportedly detained by police after yesterday’s Premier League clash against Cardiff City for appearing to mock the death of Emiliano Sala. The Argentine was tragically killed whilst travelling by plane from Nantes to Cardiff after completing a January transfer to the Premier League. According to the Daily Mirror, two fans seemed to be trolling Cardiff with air-plane gestures in the crowd yesterday. This video below has done the rounds on social media, and it seems pretty clear what he’s doing, with Cardiff supporters unsurprisingly sending plenty of abuse back his way. Hope this sad cunt gets what’s coming to him #CCFC pic.twitter.com/bwtlzXMku0 — Ty (@tkccfc) February 9, 2019 Southampton released a statement condemning this behaviour, with the Saints quoted by the Mirror as saying: ‘Southampton Football Club can confirm that two fans were detained and had their details taken by police during our match against Cardiff City on Saturday. ‘The Club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters. ‘Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary’s. ‘The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified.’<doc-sep>Southampton are intending to ban two supporters who were arrested after allegedly making “indecent gestures” during the match against at St Mary’s. Images circulated on social media show one man making what appears to be an aeroplane gesture in reference to the tragic death of Cardiff striker Emiliano Sala who was confirmed dead by Dorset police on Thursday. Shortly after the match, which Cardiff won 2-1, Southampton Football Club issued the following statement: “Southampton Football Club can confirm that two fans were detained and had their details taken by police during our match against Cardiff City on Saturday. “The Club will continue to work with Hampshire Police to identify any individuals deemed to have made indecent gestures towards Cardiff supporters. “Such behaviour has no place in our game and will not be tolerated at St Mary’s. The club will be taking an extremely firm stance against anyone involved and intends to ban those supporters identified.” All Premier League and EFL players, including those at St Mary’s, wore black armbands as a mark of respect for the recent tragedy and a minute’s silence was impeccably observed before kick off. Hampshire Police's Football United account added on Twitter: "Sad to say more than one arrest today of Saints fans for appalling gestures towards Cardiff fans, we will be working closely with Southampton to prevent this behaviour at football."<doc-sep>
Cardiff City recorded a dramatic victory over Southampton on Saturday to move themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone. It has been a difficult period for the Bluebirds, with the Emiliano Sala and David Ibbotson tragedy hanging over them amid the pressure of remaining in the top flight. Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy was full of praise for Neil Warnock's men after their gritty 2-1 win over the Saints, and the national media have also been complimentary. Here is what has been said... Daily Mail For Cardiff City to secure their first consecutive top-flight wins since April 1962, considering the two weeks they have had to endure, is nothing short of extraordinary. The news that Emiliano Sala's body had been found in the wreckage of the plane which crashed into the English Channel was broken to Neil Warnock just days ago. To then come to Southampton and take three points off a side that were unbeaten in the Premier League in 2019 highlighted the professionalism of Warnock and his players It was a gutsy performance which could prove priceless come May. This lifted Cardiff out of the relegation zone and the relief was written all over their manager's face at full time. 'The Blues are staying up and now you're gonna believe us,' sang the travelling supporters. Against all odds, they just might. The Guardian At the end of an emotionally sapping week Cardiff City showed enormous heart to snatch a stoppage-time victory, moments after Southampton had seemingly rescued a point. It was not pretty but this was about as precious a win as it gets. It was a result that hoists Cardiff above Saints in the table and left Ralph Hasenhüttl questioning whether his squad are capable of staying in the Premier League after they again activated self-destruct, collapsing after pulling level in the first of five added second-half minutes through Jack Stephens. The game was bookended by Cardiff supporters singing the name of Emiliano Sala, the club’s £15m record signing whose death was confirmed by police on Friday. Before kick-off there was an impeccable minute’s silence, while Cardiff players again wore shirts printed with a yellow daffodil – the Welsh flower and a symbol also of significance to his former club Nantes, nicknamed Les Canaris. In the away end, a few Argentina flags took prominence among the travelling supporters. But a match that had, at times, veered into the realms of slapstick it was so painfully short of quality came to a preposterous finale. The Telegraph If Cardiff City had to return finally to the abrupt reality of Premier League football after a tumultuous fortnight, this was the way to do it. A 93rd-minute winner from Kenneth Zohore after Jack Stephens had equalised two minutes earlier ensured the most dramatic of wins after an emotionally draining afternoon for Neil Warnock’s side. The players, supporters and Warnock celebrated together at the final whistle: the smallest chink of light after a devastating period but a potentially huge moment in the their campaign. The Independent Their struggle against relegation has been largely overshadowed by the confirmation of the death of their striker Emiliano Sala, whose body was this week recovered from the crashed plane that had been taking him to Cardiff, and they paid him the ultimate tribute by securing three important points. Victory crucially takes Cardiff out of the bottom three and above Southampton, who had been undefeated in the top flight since the turn of the year under their new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl. Dom Booth's post-match analysis