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  1. Barry-Murphy hopes Cardiff tribute brings comfort to Bamba familypublished at 16:13 30 August

    Brian Barry-Murphy holds up a scarf in tribute to Sol BambaImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy hopes the club's tribute to its former captain, the late Sol Bamba, will have been a source of comfort for his family.

    The Bluebirds beat Plymouth Argyle 4-0 on Saturday, a day short of a year since former Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Leicester City defender Bamba died at the age of 39.

    Fans from both clubs applauded for a whole minute 14 minutes into the game, a reference to Bamba's squad number at Cardiff.

    Barry-Murphy then held aloft a scarf bearing Bamba's name as he celebrated victory with the Bluebirds supporters after the final whistle.

    "My wife was really close to Chloe [Bamba's wife] so she knows the family really well, so a real awareness of what they went through," said Barry-Murphy.

    "I lost my own friend [former Rochdale player Joe Thompson] to cancer recently, and I think it just makes you realise how fragile life is. We obsess about everything in football, but really, it's just a small part of people's lives.

    "I think it was just important that for his [Bamba's] family and for our supporters to have that feeling of being connected. It will give a lot of people a lot of feeling of comfort in what is going to be a difficult time, bearing in mind how close it is to his anniversary."

  2. Newport need to be ruthless in Cambridge - Hughespublished at 10:31 30 August

    Newport County midfielder Matt Smith is dejected on the pitch after losing to Milton Keynes Dons at Rodney ParadeImage source, Huw Evans Agency

    Newport County need to find a ruthless edge at Cambridge United after being edged out in their last four games, says boss David Hughes.

    The manager has been pleased with performances but frustrated with results after losing 1-0 to Championship Millwall in the Carabao Cup then 2-1 to Grimsby, 1-0 to Salford and 2-1 to Milton Keynes Dons in League Two.

    The Exiles now try to halt the slide when taking on Cambridge at Abbey Stadium this afternoon (15:00 BST).

    "On another day those four games could have gone for us, but they didn't, let's not sugar coat things," said Hughes.

    "We had our moments but need a ruthless edge in both boxes because we have been really pleased with huge aspects of the performances and disappointed with outcomes."

    Hughes now locks horns with his former Cardiff colleague Neil Harris, who returned for a second spell with Cambridge in February, but could not save them from League One relegation.

    The U's are fresh from a Carabao Cup upset of Championship Charlton that has earned them a tie at Premier League Fulham.

    "Neil is an experienced manager and a really honest and humble person who wants to get the best out of people," said Hughes.

    "Cambridge are a good side and we are expecting a really competitive game. We are aware of their threats, but the emphasis is on ourselves and imposing ourselves on the game."