Neil Warnock has piled the pressure on Cardiff City's promotion rivals by insisting that Aston Villa and Fulham "have to go up" this season.

The Bluebirds have defied expectations all campaign long and find themselves as favourites to join Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League next season.

City hold a seven-point advantage on closest challengers Villa and Fulham with a game in hand to play, despite a vastly inferior wage bill, and Warnock believes that the two clubs require promotion to justify their spending.

"On our wage bill, when you look at the teams we're competing against, we really shouldn't be where we are," he told reporters at his pre-match presser ahead of Friday's home clash with Burton Albion.

"There's always pressure to win games, but I don't feel there's pressure on us as much as the other teams. Some of the other teams should go up. They have to go up, really.

"We'd be disappointed not to go up - of course we will - but it's not the end of the world. We've had a fantastic season and, whatever happens, our fans will give the players the backing they deserve at the last game of the season."

While Cardiff play host to Burton, Fulham take on Norwich City and Villa travel to Hull City across the bank holiday weekend.