Cardiff City

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Cardiff City are back on top of the League One table after a 3-0 win over Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Victory for the Bluebirds, combined with Stevenage's goalless draw against Wigan Athletic, means Brian Barry-Murphy's side lead the way to start December.

Cardiff have six home games across three competitions in December, including an EFL Cup quarter-final against Chelsea.

But the priority will remain promotion back to the Championship.

So how likely do you think the Bluebirds are of going straight back up? And how crucial will December's run of home games be?

Have your say here!

Image source, Rex Features

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy reflected on a "very satisfying" day's work as the Bluebirds returned to the top of the League One table with victory over Mansfield Town.

Cardiff swept the Stags aside with a convincing performance in their 3-0 home win on Saturday.

With previous leaders Stevenage drawing at Wigan Athletic, Barry-Murphy's side reclaimed their place at the summit of League One.

The Mansfield win was all the sweeter as this was Cardiff's first home league fixture since 18 October.

"I think in this stadium the support we've had has been incredible and you can see the energy, how quickly it comes when we're playing well," said Barry-Murphy.

"For the supporters, who've been so behind us so often this season, to get a day like today where they can enjoy the game, enjoy this evening and be at the top of the table is very satisfying for us all. It's very important."

Will Fish put Cardiff in front during a dominant first half, before Yousef Salech and Cian Ashford struck after the break.

The Bluebirds missed several chances to extend their winning margin, while they also limited Mansfield to precious few efforts on goal.

Asked if this was one of his team's more complete performances of the season, Barry-Murphy said: "We've had different points of the season where we've been pretty good, but I thought, yeah, consistently we were very good today.

"In the key moments of the game we created enough chances to score more goals, but we didn't and then when it's 1-0 you can always think it can become difficult, so to get the second goal at that point was crucial for us.

"The togetherness of the team was very satisfying for me and then the overall performance levels of the whole team in general was very pleasing."

Meanwhile, Barry-Murphy confirmed attacking midfielder Rubin Colwill will have surgery on his ankle injury, but that will not change the initial estimate that he will be out for up to 12 weeks.

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Former Cardiff City youth coach David Hughes believes the crop of young talent currently in the Bluebirds' ranks makes for an "exciting period" at the club.

Brian Barry-Murphy has relied heavily on players from the Bluebirds' academy since taking charge of the club in the summer following Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

Several young guns, including Rubin Colwill, have thrived this season as Cardiff look to secure an immediate return to the second-tier, with Hughes praising the work done within the club's youth set-up.

"James McCarthy was there before me when those younger players were recruited and he deserves the credit for it. Gavin Chesterfield has taken it on from there," Hughes told the Feast of Football podcast.

"When you look at some of the younger players, Joel [Colwill], Dylan [Lawlor], they sold a few, Charlie Crew went to Leeds, Lewys Benjamin to Wolves, Gabriele Biancheri went to Manchester United, all from the same age group of the ones we're talking about.

"There is definitely a group within that era where they can cement themselves as top players, Rubin being one of those.

"I think it's an exciting period for the club with the young players they've got and the ones they've got coming behind which is equally as exciting for Wales as it is for Cardiff, so let's hope they can push on with a promotion."

Only Peterborough United have fielded a side with an average age younger than Barry-Murphy has deployed at Cardiff so far in League One this season.

Hughes feels the club's relegation provided the platform for Cardiff's young guns to impress.

"There's a different focus from staying in the Championship to trying to win a league," he added.

"They go down, and now the intention is to try and win the league.

"What relegation may have done is open the door for the younger players to get the experience of playing in League One to then step back up."

Ioan Griffiths

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Second place Cardiff City welcome Mansfield Town to south Wales on Saturday (15:00 GMT) with the hosts looking to make it three home league wins on the bounce.

The Bluebirds go into the fixture off the back of a hard-earned 3-1 victory at Northampton Town which saw them temporarily return to the summit of the table.

And Brian Barry Murphy's side will be looking to pick up back-to-back league wins for the first time since 18 October.

"Teams will look at this period of the season with so many fixtures as an opportunity to kick on, and that's definitely our intention," said manager Barry-Murphy.

"We've won our last two home games in the league and we have a tough test on Saturday against a team managed by Nigel Clough.

"He's an experienced manager with an experienced squad. So it'll be a tough test for us."

Nigel Clough's side travel to Cardiff on the back of two league defeats, including a 3-1 loss at home to Huddersfield last Saturday.

The inconsistent Stags - currently 13th in League One five points away from the play-off places - will be hoping to cause a shock against a Cardiff side who will be looking to return to the top.

The Welsh club have not had a home match in League One since their mid-October win over Reading, with a 3-1 EFL Trophy victory over Arsenal the only game in their own backyard in the last six fixtures across all competitions.

"Our intentions is to play well and to try and make it three home wins in a row in our home stadium. It's been a long time since we've been here it feels like in the league." added Barry-Murphy.

"The stadium is a really positive place for us in all occasions.

"The turnout we had for that Arsenal game in the EFL Trophy was incredible and we are looking to build on that and try and get the win on Saturday."

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Defender Calum Chambers says Cardiff City's victory at Northampton Town shows they can produce "ugly" wins in addition to the attractive style they have become known for.

Goals from Joel Colwill and Chris Willock either side of an own goal by Northampton's Ethan Wheatley - who scored at both ends - sealed a 3-1 win and sent Brian Barry-Murphy's side top of the League One table.

The game at a freezing Sixfields Stadium was played in windy and rainy conditions.

"When you come to a place like this, they make it ugly and make it hard so it's a different test for us and I think it's a test we passed," said Chambers after the game.

"They're very direct with long balls, I think they are the most direct team in the league, so for us to come and face that test in conditions like that, I thought it was a proper performance.

Chambers said the game was an opportunity for the Cardiff squad to highlight their character and mentality.

"I think we all wanted to prove that and show that anyway," he added.

"We like to play good football and dominate games but you can't do that every game.

"There were things that we could tidy up on, but at the end of the day we've come away with a win so we're all pretty pleased".

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Brian Barry-Murphy gave a pat on the back to his Cardiff City players at Northampton Town after they proved they could come through a scrap to triumph on their travels.

Cardiff were made to work for victory against a physical Cobblers side, with the points not sealed until Chris Willock's sharp finish made it 3-1 in the third minute of added time.

Northampton had their chances, with Cardiff losing momentum at times in a hard-fought contest at Sixfields.

Aside from Cardiff delight over the result – which took Barry-Murphy's team back to the top of League One – there was satisfaction in the away dressing room over the manner of the victory.

"We have to show different sides to our character," Barry-Murphy said.

"We showed a clear sign of how resilient we can be and I am very proud of the players for that.

"This was a good test – and there will be more tests along the way."

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Cardiff's success was their first away from home in League One since September and only their second since August.

The Welsh side have lost third-tier games at Blackpool and Bolton in the last month and exited the FA Cup at Peterborough.

"Northampton was a very difficult game in tough conditions," Barry-Murphy added.

"We had to weather different storms at different times in the game. That's one of the questions that has been levelled against us as a team as we deal with these away fixtures and [at Northampton] we did."

Ioan Griffiths

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The return of club football sees Cardiff City travel to Northampton Town on Saturday (15:00 GMT) for a third successive away game in League One.

The Bluebirds will be looking to bounce back from two league defeats in a row on the road against Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, which have dropped them to fifth in the table.

Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy will be hoping to iron out the inconsistencies of recent weeks, which included a first-round exit at Peterborough United in the FA Cup.

"We have to try and improve all the time. I feel like we are where we should be," Barry-Murphy said.

"In recent weeks we've lost games that we probably should've won. The facts are we are where we are.

"Our intention now is to play the game on Saturday like we know we can and return to the top of the table."

Northampton sit 15th in League One under the management of former Bolton and West Ham United midfielder Kevin Nolan.

The Cobblers have had an up and down season so far but will be looking to win two games on the spin after beating Mansfield Town 2-1 in their last outing.

Barry-Murphy insists his side will not be complacent in their preparations for the trip to Sixfields Stadium.

"Where they are in the table is irrelevant. There's so many different permutations that can impact that, as you saw with Blackpool," he said.

"We've studied them in depth. We are going to prepare for the game meticulously.

"There's a real focus on what we've got to do on Saturday, because we want to be more consistent in our performances to give us a chance to win the game."

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Winger Omari Kellyman is unavailable to play in Cardiff City's EFL quarter-final against Chelsea.

The 20-year-old is currently on loan with the League One side from the west London club.

The Bluebirds made a tentative verbal request to allow Kellyman to play in next month's tie but that has been turned down by the Premier League side.

"That would've been another brilliant opportunity for me but it's a difficult one isn't it," Kellyman said.

"I would've loved to have played. It would've been a great opportunity to play against some world class players so I would've enjoyed that one but it is what it is."

Kellyman moved to Chelsea from Aston Villa for £19 million in June 2024 on a six-year contract.

His first season was hampered with injuries which limited to him only four appearances for Chelsea Under-21s.

Having joined the Bluebirds on loan for the 2025-26 campaign he has appeared 11 times, scoring once.

Cardiff host Chelsea for a place in the sem-finals on Tuesday,16 December (20:00 GMT).

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Cardiff City will host League One rivals AFC Wimbledon in the first knockout round of the EFL Trophy after winning their group thanks to Tuesday's victory over Arsenal Under-21s.

The Bluebirds beat Exeter City to top spot in Southern Group A despite boss Brian Barry-Murphy deploying numerous young players in the competition.

Cardiff's reward is a round of 32 meeting with a Wimbledon side they beat 1-0 at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in the third tier in August.

As one of the group winners, Cardiff were guaranteed a home tie in the regionalised draw.

AFC Wimbledon finished second in Southern Group E behind Stevenage.

Johnnie Jackson's team are seventh in League One, a point and three places behind Cardiff.

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Andy Rinomhota is back in football almost seven months after playing his final game for Cardiff City.

The midfielder or right-back was one of Cardiff's better performers as they were relegated from the Championship last season, making 34 appearances in all competitions.

But with his contract up, Cardiff announced the 28-year-old's departure in June following "talks with the first-team management".

Having been without a club since his Bluebirds exit, Rinomhota has joined League One Reading on a deal until the end of the season.

Rinomhota made 84 appearances in total for Cardiff after joining the Welsh club from Reading in 2022.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Brian Barry-Murphy says his youngsters will be given another chance to impress in the next round of the EFL Trophy after Cardiff City beat Arsenal Under-21s.

The Bluebirds deservedly overcame Arsenal's development side in the final group stage match on Tuesday.

Victory meant Cardiff topped the group and secured a place in the round of 32, with the draw to be made on Thursday (14:30 GMT).

Cardiff boss Barry-Murphy named a team packed with academy players, with Gabriel Keita, Alyas Debono, Matty Apter, Trey George and Dan Ola making debuts from the start.

Three further debuts followed in the second half, for Jake Davies, Harry Watts and Jack Sykes, capping a proud night for the club's youth set-up.

"I'm really pleased for the players. It was a very big occasion for them as you can imagine so many players making their debut together," Barry-Murphy said.

"To perform in the manner they did and win the game and put us through to the next round makes it an incredibly satisfying evening for us all."

Barry-Murphy praised the youngsters' attitude, as well as the work of under-21s head coach Darren Purse and academy manager Gavin Chesterfield.

"You want that genuine collaboration where everybody feels part of something special," he added.

"We're still in the very early stages of trying to become the club we want to be, but for all the players to show so much passion and fight for a game like this was very satisfying."

Senior players including Callum Robinson, Chris Willock, Will Fish and Calum Chambers watched Cardiff's youngsters triumph.

Barry-Murphy said many of the players involved against Arsenal will play again in the next round.

"For these players to put so much into this game, the reward for them has to be that they get the chance to compete in the next round and see how far we can go," he said.

"That gives them an incredible benefit in terms of how quickly their development can be increased."