Cardiff City

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Former Cardiff City captain Steven Caulker says he is “surprised” the Bluebirds have not offered Erol Bulut a new contract.

Bulut took charge at Cardiff City Stadium last summer on an initial one-year deal.

After a promising start to the season, Cardiff look to be heading for a mid-table Championship finish – which represents significant progress after the struggles of the last two campaigns.

Caulker played under Bulut for Turkish clubs Alanyaspor and Gaziantep.

And the centre-back, who is now taking his first steps in management as player-boss of Spanish side Malaga City, says Cardiff should back Bulut now if they want him to stay beyond this season.

“I think he would like to stay. I think lot depends on the club - I am quite surprised the club haven’t yet offered him a renewal,” Caulker told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“He has been working with a limited budget, let’s say. He hasn’t had the chance to say 'I want this signing and that signing'. He has been fairly restricted in that sense.

“Cardiff is Cardiff. I don’t know where they are at. They have sacked a lot of managers. Maybe they are looking for that bit of consistency but at the same time waiting for the results to pick up. I don’t know.

“But I am sure there is a little bit of uncertainty there and that will have an effect in the changing room.

“If they are going to keep him, it would be good for them to come out and back him, and I believe he would stay. I can’t see why he wouldn’t.”

Cardiff, who go to Bristol City on Saturday, are 14th in the table after beating Stoke last weekend to register a first win in five league games.

Caulker says recent struggles will not affect Bulut.

“Knowing him on a personal level, he is very resilient,” he added.

“I know there’s quite a few disgruntled fans but I don’t think he’s going to go under from that pressure.

“I think he is going to rally the troops, so to speak, get the boys together and come back fighting, as they did against Stoke.”

Listen to the full interview with Steven Caulker, who also played for Swansea City, on Friday's Radio Wales Sport.

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Iwan Roberts believes there is “light at the end of the tunnel” for Cardiff City as they prepare for Saturday’s Severnside derby at Bristol City.

Cardiff are 14th in the Championship, nine points clear of the relegation zone, after ending their long wait for a home win last weekend.

The 2-1 success against Stoke City was a first on their own ground since early December.

It also made it four points from the last two games for Erol Bulut’s team, who had lost five of their previous six league fixtures.

Roberts says Cardiff still have some work to do to make absolutely sure they will not be dragged into a relegation battle this spring.

But the ex-Wales striker told this week’s Elis James' Feast of Football podcast that Bulut’s side “can breathe a sigh of relief” after the Stoke win.

“They need two wins to get to the 50-point mark, then you’re relatively safe,” Roberts said.

“It (the season) started well for Cardiff. Aaron Ramsey coming back to the club, there were good performances and they were scoring goals.

“It’s then gone downhill. The performances have been poor. Erol Bulut has got to take part responsibility for that - he has brought a lot of players in.

“There is still work to be done but you can see light at the end of the tunnel now for Cardiff. They are maybe not looking over their shoulders as much.”

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Cardiff City youngsters Cian Ashford and Joel Colwill have been told to be patient – and they will get their first team chances.

The youngsters have been regulars on the Bluebirds’ bench recently.

And coach Erol Bulut has vowed they will get their Championship opportunities, but only when the time is right.

Forward Ashford, 19, has made four cup appearances this term. Midfielder Colwill, brother and team-mate of Wales international Rubin, has had three cup outings.

Bulut said Ashford, like Colwill a Wales under-21 international, had made good progress this season.

But after the team's drop-off in form raised fears of a Championship relegation battle, he would have to take care not to throw the young bloods into a high-pressured situation.

The Cardiff boss said: “We have to manage him well, not only him but Joel Colwill too, he is also doing well. We need the right time to use the young players.”

Bulut said he understood the frustration of fans of seeing the academy products sitting on the side lines, but he does not feel the circumstances have been conducive to throwing the young Bluebirds into the firing line.

“I know what the fans want, but the fans have to understand he [Ashford] is 18 and to put an 18-year-old in this situation to play, there would be too much pressure on him," he added.

“We have to wait for the moments when we can use him. I said when I spoke to the coaches, he will get his minutes because he is doing really well.

“He is training with us every day and in the training sessions he has progressed well from the start of the season to where he is now. If he continues like this he will get the minutes.”

Cardiff’s 2-1 win over Stoke City last Saturday may help curtail the wait for Ashford and Colwill to get their chances

The Bluebirds go into Saturday’s Severnside derby away to Bristol City nine points clear of Stoke, who were plunged into the bottom three with defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium.

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Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut hopes his side have turned a corner after ending their dismal run at home without a goal.

The Bluebirds’ opener in their 2-1 win over Stoke City was their first goal at Cardiff City Stadium since Boxing Day as they recorded a first home win since 9 December.

Kion Etete and Karlan Grant got on the scoresheet, with the forwards scoring their third and fifth league goals of the season respectively.

Bulut feels the goals can help to lift the confidence of his attacking players.

"For offensive players it's always if you make a good assist or score, you get confidence," Bulut said.

"If you miss many chances, it's difficult to get the confidence. You will not try (to shoot) the next time you should. That's why I'm satisfied with this and I hope our guys continue like that.

"To get the confidence back was important. Our offensive players scored the goals and now the confidence, I think the players are on a better level than they have been 10 days before.

"At home there's been a bit of pressure because it's been a long time since we have won. This makes pressure."

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Aaron Ramsey still has a big role to play at Cardiff City despite being sidelined by injury, according to Erol Bulut.

The Bluebirds boss is determined to make the most of Ramsey's know-how and experience as the midfielder recuperates from a tendon injury which has ruled him out for at least a month.

Ramsey made just two substitute appearances after a five-month absence with a knee problem, only to suffer another setback.

But Bulut said the former Arsenal and Juventus player is coming to terms with the latest blow.

"I saw him laughing, it was good. This is a positive sign. For him it's also not easy, to have a long injury and to come back, you're back, you've played a few minutes in two games and get injured again from nothing.

"Mentally, it puts you down, but Ramsey has a strong mentality. He will come stronger back, I think, after this."

Bulut belives 84 times-capped Ramsey, who has won silverware in England, Italy and Scotland, will still have an influence around the club, even while recovering.

Bulut said: "To have a player in the first 11 is always great. But when he's not in the team, outside he's trying to help the team and the club a lot, to talk with the players also inside the dressing room.

"He's an experienced player who has played at a high level, it's always important."

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Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut will talk to Ryan Wintle after an alleged verbal spat between the player and some fans during the goalless home draw with Blackburn Rovers.

There were social media reports of Wintle, captain on the night, reacting to supporters in the Ninian Stand after he had taken a free-kick.

Bulut did not see the incident, but will discuss it with the midfielder and says he is keen for players to avoid venting any sort of frustration with fans.

The Cardiff manager said: "He is the captain, we will have to talk to him. If he made something wrong he has to apologise for that because the fans are here for the players and push them to be positive.

"We cannot show a negative reaction like that."

Despite an improved performance against Blackburn, Cardiff have not won a home game since a 1-0 victory over Millwall on 9 December.

The draw with Blackburn ended a run of three successive league defeats.

The Bluebirds have won just one of their last eight league and cup ties going into Saturday's encounter with Stoke, but have still taken big numbers of fans on their travels.

Bulut is appreciative of the fans' efforts and does not want the relationship between the team and support to be affected.

"Over the last few weeks, they were supporting us really hard," he added.

"We lost games and again they supported us really hard. So we cannot show this reaction."

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Cardiff City are set for a reunion with Neil Harris this spring with the former Bluebirds boss set for a shock return to the Championship with Millwall.

Harris, 46, has not managed in the second tier since leaving Cardiff in 2021.

He returned to management at Gillingham in 2022, but was sacked by the League Two club last October.

Harris then took over at Cambridge in December – but is now set to depart the League One side to rejoin former club Millwall.

The Lions are turning to Harris with Joe Edwards expected to leave his post at the Den having won only four of 19 games since he succeeded Gary Rowett last November.

Millwall, who are just a point above the relegation zone having lost their last four games, host Cardiff on 13 April.

Harris led Cardiff to the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2019-20.

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Cardiff’s wait for a home win went on with Tuesday’s goalless draw against Blackburn – and so did their goal drought at Cardiff City Stadium.

The Bluebirds have now gone more than six hours without scoring at home, while their wait for a victory at Cardiff City Stadium stretches back to early December.

Following the game against Blackburn, Cardiff manager Erol Bulut was asked why his side have only managed 18 goals in 16 home league games this season.

"Maybe it is the pressure of the fans? 'We have to score, we have to score.' I don't know,” he said.

“At home it has to be better, for sure. Right now we can speak about many things. We have to continue to work.

"Defensively we were good. The team was really working hard [against Blackburn]. In front of the goal is the issue. We create a lot, but don't put the ball in the net and this continues.”

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It is easy to forget given their current travails that Cardiff City began this season by winning four of their first five home league games.

The Cardiff City Stadium struggles of the last campaign appeared to have been overcome as Erol Bulut made himself at home in the Welsh capital.

Yet since Rotherham United were seen off on 30 September, the Bluebirds have managed only two wins in 10 home league matches.

Cardiff’s most recent success on their own patch came against Millwall back on 9 December. Since then, they have taken just one point from five home fixtures.

Thank goodness, therefore, for away successes at Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers and Watford which have prevented Bulut’s team from being sucked into the Championship’s relegation scrap.

They are not out of the woods yet, of course, hence Bulut has fingers crossed that his players can begin to turn their home fortunes around when Blackburn Rovers visit on Tuesday night.

“We play at home in front of our fans so now it’s time to give back to them,” Bulut said.

“It’s a good moment to come back with a win and turn it in a positive way. We have to get three points.”

The good news for Cardiff is that 17th-placed Blackburn – who are three points and three places below their midweek opponents in the table – have not won on the road since November.

For Cardiff, perhaps, opportunity knocks.

“We started well this season. We got 40 points, we have to continue 14 games more and we have to change it again,” added Bulut, who hopes Perry Ng will shake off a hip injury to feature against Rovers.

“We have to give the fans something back. We have to show more.”

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Cardiff City's Championship form makes for worrying reading heading into tomorrow's home game against Blackburn Rovers.

The 4-1 defeat at Norwich on Saturday made it three league losses in a row - the first time such a sequence has happened since Erol Bulut took charge last summer.

But that's not the only statistic that gives cause for concern - and leaves supporters desperate to see their side turn things around against Blackburn.

Here's a quick glance at some of the key numbers Bulut will hope to put a stop to:

• Cardiff have lost five of their last six league games, the only win in that sequence being a 1-0 win at Watford at the start of the month.

• Since 1 December, no Championship side has lost more games than Cardiff. Blackburn and Rotherham have also been beaten nine times.

• In that same spell, only Rotherham (9) have scored fewer goals than Cardiff (10) while the Bluebirds have the worst goal difference (-16).

• Cardiff have not won at home since a 1-0 win over Millwall on 9 December, picking up just one point from the five games since then.

• That run has seen them lose their last three at the Cardiff City Stadium (against Leicester, Leeds and Preston) while failing to find the net in all three.

• Cardiff are third lowest for shots on goal in the division.

But if you're looking for some reasons to be hopeful:

• Blackburn are winless in seven games on the road, although they did end a six-game losing away run with Saturday's 2-2 draw at Preston.

• They have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 15 league games.

• Despite the recent woes, Cardiff are eight points better off than they were than the same stage last season.

You can follow the game on the Championship live text on the BBC Sport website with full commentary on BBC Radio Wales Sport for listeners on FM & DAB in the south east of Wales from 19.00 GMT.

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Cardiff City's woeful run continued on the weekend as they let an early lead slip to be well beaten 4-1 at Norwich City.

Jamilu Collins had given the Bluebirds the lead, but a brace from Josh Sargeant as well as goals from Gabriel Sara and Christian Fassnacht ultimately made it an easy day's work for the Canaries.

The result means Cardiff have now lost six of their last seven Championship matches, as relegation fears start to replace play-off hopes.

We asked for your opinions on BBC Radio Wales' Call Rob Phillips show after the match, and here is what you had to say.

Mark - Another season, another crisis for Cardiff. Erol Bulut will be gone at the end of the season and we will be in the same boat. League One is a matter of time until the club develops a strategy and identity.

John - It's difficult to see where Cardiff go from here. QPR and Sheffield Wednesday winning is worrying. The gap is closing.

Alex - The next two games are crucial for our season. Win and we are back in the mix, lose and we are in deep trouble.

Cian - I've backed Erol Bulut all the way, but we went into the game setting up for defeat. If this is a long-term project we would at least have an identity.

John - No tactics, no press, no intensity. Playing useless loan rather than opportunities given to players who will be here next season. It is time for Erol Bulut to go.

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Winger Isaak Davies says his loan move to Belgian Pro League side K.V. Kortrijk has been the "best thing I could have done".

The 22-year-old, who is on loan from Cardiff City, has quickly become a fan favourite in Belgium, with the fans unveiling banners which have described him as the 'King of Kortrijk'.

Kortrijk are currently bottom of the Belgian Pro League, seven points from safety with 10 games remaining.

And Davies, who scored on Sunday in a 3-1 defeat to league leaders Royal Union Saint-Gilloise, says his only aim at the moment is helping the club avoid relegation.

Speaking to Radio Wales Sport on Friday, Davies said: "I don't look into the future, but my main focus is to keep this club up.

"The fans are unbelievable and they deserve it."

Davies says his parent club, Cardiff, have been watching his progress closely, and believes his time in Belgium has been beneficial to his career.

"It's not easy moving to a different country but I think it's worth it, I've been playing regular football which I need to be at this age," said Davies.

"Coming away was the best thing I could have done.

"I feel I'm just going to benefit from it, I just want to be playing football.

"Training isn't enough, I'm gaining so much experience out here."

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Midfielder Aaron Ramsey is a doubt for Cardiff's Championship match at home to Blackburn on Tuesday.

Wales captain Ramsey missed Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Norwich with a calf strain.

The 33-year-old had only been back a week having returned from a knee injury which had kept him out of action since September.

As well as missing the trip to Norwich, Ramsey could also be unavailable for the visit of Blackburn.

“For Tuesday I think it will be difficult because he got injured. He got a strain on his calf," said Cardiff manager Erol Bulut.

“Perry Ng injured his hip. We were hoping to use them today [Saturday] but also for Tuesday Aaron will be difficult.

“I think it will only be a short time [for Ramsey], maybe one week.”