Friday 4 May 2018 16:17, UK
Cardiff manager Neil Warnock believes Fulham are comparable to Premier League champions Manchester City, with both sides vying for automatic promotion to the top-flight.
Cardiff host Paul Clement's Reading, who aren't certain of retaining their Championship status, on Sunday's final day of the regular season, live on Sky Sports Football.
Fulham, under Slavisa Jokanovic, visit strugglers Birmingham have earned praise for their free-flowing attacking football in the second half of the season and an extended unbeaten run but Warnock says his side have not received sufficient credit for their own performance - despite his side suffering three defeats from their last six matches.
"They have a lovely style. It is an easy style, like Manchester City. They are the Manchester City of the Championship really"
"They have a lovely style. It is an easy style, like Manchester City. They are the Manchester City of the Championship really," Warnock said.
"When you see that they have gone twenty-three games undefeated and we are still above them, nobody really mentions our run.
"We haven't had a bad run either. I am sure they wish we weren't here."
Warnock can earn a record eighth career promotion at the weekend and the 69-year-old admits a burning desire to prove his doubters wrong holds firm late on in his managerial career.
"You get a little bit bitter as a manager when circumstances go against you. I think that is what drives me on to try and prove people wrong," he said.
"Proving ex-chairmen wrong is probably my biggest drive if I am honest. It still burns with me. I still like to show people, that I have probably not had a great relationship with, what they have missed"
"You have to have something as a manager behind you to drive you on, especially at my age. Most people are at the seaside on their deckchairs.
"Proving ex-chairmen wrong is probably my biggest drive if I am honest. It still burns with me. I still like to show people, that I have probably not had a great relationship with, what they have missed."
Warnock was appointed as the Bluebirds boss in October 2016 after helping Rotherham avoid relegation to the third tier - a job he says "whetted his appetite" in management - and the former Sheffield United and Crystal Palace manager understands the significance of what is a stake.
"Everybody knows how important it is. Apparently, all the supporters are very nervous so I am told. I don't know why! We have just got to enjoy it. All season it has been great," he said.
"I look at the forums here and there and when you look back to August it is quite funny. I wish I could talk to some of those guys now. As the season has progressed it is really interesting to see the fans' reactions.
"The one plus thing for me, is I think I have brought the whole club together over the 18 months I have been here. I think it was very fragmented when I came."
