Bobby Hassell says retired striker's Nathan Blake's critical comments about the Reds were disrespectful.
The Cardiff-born former Wolves and Bolton forward said Barnsley had no players who would trouble the Bluebirds ahead of the 1-1 draw in Cardiff on Tuesday.
Writing in a Cardiff newspaper, Blake said: "There's nobody in the Barnsley team that really carries a threat or should do any damage to the Bluebirds. No offence to Barnsley, but they operate on a small budget and I really can't see them holding City back right now. I believe the Bluebirds will win quite comfortably, something like 2-0 or 3-1."
But Reds favourite Hassell responded: "Players and former players always say things to the press to please fans before games, but Blake's comments were disrespectful. He clearly hasn't seen the spirit in our dressing room or watched us in recent weeks. If he had, he would see that we have been one of the form teams in the league since the turn of the year.
"Cardiff's players earn four times what we earn yet we went and got a point. It was more defending and more graft but we showed a lot of bravery."
