Millwall win crucial as Cardiff City remain in Championship play-off hunt
- Published
Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut celebrates with Dimitrios Goutas
Erol Bulut admits it was vital that Cardiff City beat Millwall to remain firmly in Championship play-off contention.
Dimitrios Goutas headed home his third goal of the season to earn the Bluebirds a 1-0 win over the Lions.
It means Cardiff are now only outside the top six on goal difference.
"The results from the (top six) opponents, you understand how important it was to take three points," Bulut said.
"This is a period where we have to take as many points as possible because every three days we play a game.
"If you see how close the table is, with one or two wins you are in the play-offs.
"But with two losses, you can change your position from sixth to 14th.
"We want to stay around the play-offs and we will do everything for that."
A dour opening 45 minutes were followed by a far more entertaining second half in south Wales.
Zian Flemming, Kevin Nisbet and Duncan Watmore had Millwall's best chances while Yakou Meite spurned a fine opening before Goutas' 78th minute header settled proceedings.
And while happy to emerge victorious over the Londoners, Bulut concedes that his side need to improve ahead of matches against Birmingham City and Hull City next week.
"When we see the whole game, it wasn't the best quality game," added Bulut.
"We knew this because the opponents are physically good.
"It was an aggressive game. We need to manage it better, better passing options, we lost a lot of balls.
"We couldn't play our game, the opponent didn't allow us.
"It was one of those games where if you score the first goal you win the game. We scored it and got the three points."
Cardiff return to action against Birmingham City on Wednesday night while Joe Edwards' side travel to league leaders Leicester City.
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