Cardiff City - Whittingham's free-kick secret finally revealed

Peter Whittingham signed for Cardiff City in January 2007 from Aston Villa for a fee of £350,000

Cardiff City's Joe Ralls has revealed the secret of teammate Peter Whittingham's free-kick success - never practice.

Bluebirds' veteran Whittingham has made an art of the set-piece, most recently curling home in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

It is a Whittingham trademark, but it seems the 32-year-old is not one for over-doing it.

"I've never seen him take a free-kick in training," said Ralls.

"I've never seen him do it, but everyone knows how good he is technically and when you've got a free-kick, you always think he's got a chance.

"He's got a lovely strike and that showed against Sheffield Wednesday."

Whittingham is now ninth in the list of all-time appearances for the Bluebirds and 10th on the goal-scoring roll of honour.

And according to midfield colleague Ralls, there's still plenty left in the tank.

"He's still going strong," said 23-year-old Ralls.

"The gaffer has been impressed with his running the last couple of games, they reckon he's putting in some distance.

"He's obviously been showing his quality too, his free-kick and his whole play. It's been good."

Ralls says he is enjoying a working under Warnock and playing in a three-man midfield with Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson.

Joe Ralls (left) celebrates with Aron Gunnarsson who he has praised as a midfield enforcer for Cardiff City

"First and foremost we've obviously got to be solid in there," said Ralls.

"Then when we get the ball and go forward the gaffer has given me the licence to get involved and I'm really enjoying that at the moment.

"I do think we've got a good formula with us three in the middle, it seems to be working. We've got a good balance in the team."

With Warnock getting an unbeaten start in his first three games in charge, Cardiff welcome struggling Wigan to the Welsh capital.

The Latics are one place off the foot of the Championship table and sacked manager Gary Caldwell this week.

Ralls, though, has warned against any form of complacency in the Bluebirds camp.

"People might think we are favourites, we are back home after a couple of good results," added Ralls.

"But we are still finding our feet and getting ourselves going. It's a massive game for us. We can still improve in some areas.

"We are still at the wrong end of the table and first and foremost we have to pull away from that."