Derby’s Matej Vydra bares teeth to boost play-off hopes against Cardiff

Matej Vydra came off the bench to fire Derby into the Championship’s play-off places and put a dent in Cardiff hopes of securing the second automatic promotion spot. Neil Warnock’s team were set to tighten their grip on second place behind Wolves when Callum Paterson gave them the lead here, but Cameron Jerome and Vydra struck back in the second half to inflict a defeat on the Welsh side. Cardiff remain in second place but only by one point, meaning Fulham or Aston Villa could yet overhaul them with two rounds of matches to go.

Warnock is aiming for his eighth promotion in a managerial career spanning more than three decades. When he achieved his first, by leading Scarborough out of the Conference in 1987, Gary Rowett was coming to grips with secondary school. Although a rookie compared to Warnock, Derby’s manager is not without wiles. But, as with his recent predecessors at Pride Park, he has yet to solve the riddle of how to make Derby consistent.

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