Neil Warnock wants Wigan Athletic's potential points deduction to be resolved before meeting with Sheffield Wednesday next week

The Latics are appealing against the English Football League’s 12-point deduction after the Championship side became the first club to go into administration since the outbreak of the Covid-19 crisis.

Wigan's draw in their early kick off at Charlton meant that Boro - taking the Latics' penalty into account - were safe before starting the game against his former club Cardiff City, who triumphed 3-1 at the Riverside Stadium as the hosts' run without a home victory extended to 11 matches in all competitions.

But if Wigan win their appeal and the deduction is not enforced, Boro will head to Hillsborough with their safety not yet assured.

Final-day opponents Wednesday are also waiting to hear their fate with the Hillsborough outfit club facing a potential points deduction if they are found guilty of breaching Profitability and Sustainability rules - which would put them in the relegation frame if it is sufficiently punitive.

Specifically on the Wigan situation, Warnock said: "It is to be hoped that everything can be put to bed by then (the final game). They must know how important the appeal is. They cannot just drag it on forever, can they. Hopefully, we will get a decision by Wednesday.

"The (Wigan) result came through before the game, which I was not happy with. I did not want the players aware of that. I did not think it helped us, but we cannot blame that. They (Cardiff) won fair and square and I have no problem with that."

On the performance of his Boro side, who suffered a sixth home defeat in seven league matches on an afternoon which saw midfielder Jonny Howson dismissed late on for a second yellow card following a poor challenge on Cardiff rival Will Vaulks, Warnock continued: "I was disappointed with the result. I was not too disappointed with the performance.

"It just showed up what we already know. At this level, you have got to be able to mark from corners.

"We had worked on it for most of the week and yet after three or four minutes, it went out of the window. I just thought they were a little bit more professional in places.

"But we had five lads coming through the academy. We are just a little bit young in certain areas, but I cannot fault anything.

"The mental side of the players has got to be stronger. I do not want to keep comparing teams like Cardiff and ourselves, but Cardiff would not have conceded the first goal, make no mistakes.

"At both ends, the players have got to be a little bit more clued up and streetwise. It was just a bit of naivety in certain areas.

"Jonny spoiled what I thought was a good performance by him by recklessly getting sent off like that."