By Daily Sports on August 4, 2019

Promotion favourites Cardiff City and Fulham began their Championship campaigns in the worst possibly way on Saturday after respective defeats to Wigan and Barnsley.

Josh Windass picked himself up from missing a penalty to mastermind Wigan’s 3-2 victory over Neil Warnock’s Cardiff while Fulham fell at Barnsley 1-0.

Former Croatia national coach Slaven Bilic began with a victory as West Browmich Albion manager, they came from a goal down to beat Nottingham Forest – also with a new manager Sabri Lamouchi – 2-1.

The Bluebirds got off to a great start in England’s second tier as Joe Ralls gave them the lead in the 20th minute.

It looked as if Warnock would come away with the three points when Wigan’s Windass missed a penalty early in the second-half, but he recovered to set up Michael Jacobs for the 59th-minute equaliser before scoring the second.

Omar Bogle got Cardiff back on equal terms against his former club with 20 minutes remaining only for Wales-born Lee Evans to rifle home a long range effort to restore Wigan’s lead five minutes later.

“It was nothing I wasn’t expecting, we know exactly how tough this league is,” said Warnock.

“I think one or two questions were answered today, if I’m honest, in my own mind.”

Fulham’s defensive problems which cost them so dearly in the Premier League let them down early on against Barnsley, with Luke Thomas breezing past their defence to fire the winner after just 13 minutes.

Former England midfielder Parker’s side could not force an equaliser despite having two efforts cleared off the line against their newly-promoted opponents.

Parker – who secured the job on a permanent basis despite winning just three of the non-Premier League games he took charge of – said he and his players were under no illusions as to the size of the task facing them. (SuperSport)

•Photo shows Fulham players 

Source Daily Sports

Posted August 4, 2019

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