Neil Warnock says referee Simon Hooper admitted to Cardiff penalty in Watford loss

Neil Warnock says referee Simon Hooper admitted Cardiff should have had a first-half penalty in their heavy 5-1 home defeat by Watford on Friday night.

Cardiff remain just a point off the Premier League relegation zone after they were thrashed by a ruthless Watford side at the Cardiff City Stadium, where Gerard Deulofeu scored a hat-trick and Troy Deeney grabbed two.

In the 42nd minute, Josh Murphy was taken down inside the area by Daryl Janmaat when Watford were 1-0 up, and Warnock says referee Hooper owned up to making "a mistake" over the spot-kick incident.

"He said he's seen it back on video and he's made a mistake," Warnock said. "What do you say to that? It doesn't help me when you get battered five.

"VAR would have solved that in 30 seconds, everybody on the pitch knew it was a penalty.

"Troy (Deeney) said it was a nailed-on penalty, so too (Adrian) Mariappa and all their staff on the touchline. I like Simon as a referee and he's not done it on purpose, he's upset himself about the situation."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Cardiff could finish the weekend in the drop zone if Southampton record at least a point away to Arsenal on Sunday.

Warnock insists his side must show resilience heading into the final months of the season.

He told Sky Sports: "The goals were giveaways and pathetic really. We will keep fighting.

"We are going to have games like these where we play against good teams. They are a good side but it doesn't half help when you get decisions going for you like that.

"We have to be stronger mentally. We can't let decisions like that affect our game and collapse like that. We have to grit our teeth and come back with another answer."

Play Super 6

Predict 6 correct scores for your chance to win £250K.