Neil Warnock goes in on ‘Sunday trainee’ referee Andy Madley

Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has questioned why referee Andy Madley was allowed to take charge of Cardiff's 3-2 loss to Watford on Saturday.

Watford were 3-0 up after 80 minutes before Junior Hoilett and Bobby Reid pulled two goals back for the visitors as they went in search of a valuable point away from home. Madley, who is the brother of former Premier League referee Bobby, had overseen just one top flight game in the past, a 2-2 draw between Watford and Bournemouth last season, and Warnock questioned why Madley was tasked with the game instead of more experienced referee Andre Mariner who was on the sidelines.

"I cannot understand why we had Andre Marriner as the fourth official, and a referee who has not refereed a game all season [as the ref]," Warnock told BBC Sport. "Unless it's because we are Cardiff and they say we can have a Sunday trainee or somebody?"

One particular challenge from Watford forward Troy Deeney aggravated Warnock and he insisted that Mariner would have booked the striker.

"Troy should have been booked," added Warnock. "I don't understand why we have to be the experimental side. "Is it because they feel sorry for us? Or feel we are not important? "You cannot tell me Marriner would not have give Deeney a card of some sort. It was a terrible tackle. We do not queue up and surround the referee. It upsets me when I see other teams get away with things. "He [Deeney] could have pulled out early doors or not put his studs up. It warranted a card. I am disappointed to have an inexperienced referee. At least it gives him practice and is great for his assessors."