Luton Town manager Nathan Jones has insisted that Neil Harris deserves the chance to get through a difficult period in his Cardiff career and that he has earned the right to get time to turn things around.
The Bluebirds host Luton Town on Saturday in what Harris honestly admitted is the start of a ‘big period’ for both himself and Cardiff’s squad over the next few weeks. The former Millwall manager has come under intense scrutiny following the frustrating 1-0 defeat against Coventry City in midweek which has compounded their disappointing start to the campaign.
Cardiff headed into the season as one of the promotion hopefuls after making it to the play-off semi-finals last term, with Harris transforming the Bluebirds into one of the most inform teams in the league after taking over from Neil Warnock. However, with just three wins in their first 13 league matches time is running out for them to catch up with the top six.
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Speaking to the media ahead of Luton’s clash with Cardiff, Jones insisted that Harris should not be coming under such intense pressure, with the former Stoke boss believing he can turn things around for the Bluebirds and that his side still represent a tough prospect for any side in the division.
He said: “I wouldn’t say Neil Harris is under pressure, Neil Harris did a wonderful job last year and got them in the play-offs.
“The Championship is one of those things, someone told me once that you don’t have to do a hell of a lot different in the Championship to go four unbeaten or to get four or five defeats on the spin because it is that type of league.
“Neil is experienced, they are not in a precarious position in any way shape or form.
"There are far more teams in precarious positions, plus he brought himself a little bit of leeway because he has done fantastic work there.
“It’s never a good time to play Cardiff, especially away, because they’re a tough side to play.
“They have got experienced Championship players, a lot with Premier League experience so it’s a tough, tough game.
The verdict
Jones knows all about what it feels like to come under intense pressure from a side expecting to be challenging at the top end of the table but instead finding themselves in nearer the bottom. He himself saw that pressure ultimately lead to him losing his job at Stoke City last term, but there is something to his argument about the Cardiff boss deserving some more time.
However, Cardiff showed they can be ruthless when needed and avoid sentiment over past achievements when they parted company with Warnock last term with their promotion push faltering. Harris can not afford many more poor results or performances like the one against Coventry in midweek.
You get the feeling that Cardiff’s players will ultimately deliver their answer to whether they want Harris to remain in charge with their reaction to that defeat in the coming weeks. It is vital for the former Millwall manager that his players prove Jones’ comments right and buy him more time to turn things around.