Cardiff City

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Southampton head coach Russell Martin says he made up with Cardiff City's ground staff after being soaked by sprinklers during his visit to the home of the Bluebirds last season.

The former Swansea City boss was twice sprayed by the Cardiff City Stadium's water sprinklers as he applauded Saints supporters prior to his side's 2-1 loss to Erol Bulut's men in April.

However, ahead of Southampton's 5-3 Carabao Cup second-round win against the Bluebirds on Wednesday night, Martin met with Cardiff City's grounds manager Liam James who posted a picture of the pair on X, external.

"I had a good chat with them (Cardiff's ground staff) before the game, we had a laugh about them soaking me last season and the guy owned up to it, finally," Martin jokingly said.

"That's all I wanted, I just wanted him to own up and say that he meant it and that it wasn't a mistake.

"It's all good. They've done a good job with the pitch, they're nice guys."

Martin won all four of his south Wales derby matches as Swansea boss and became the first manager to oversee a league double between the sides during the 2021-22 season.

But the 38-year-old said he was grateful for the welcome he received from club staff at Cardiff.

"They (Cardiff's ground staff) know where my allegiance lies in south Wales," Martin added.

"I watched the derby with a lot of eagerness on Sunday. I was really happy with the way the first half went but obviously it was a draw in the end.

"I can't be too complimentary about the guys here because I love so many people a bit down the road.

"I got a really nice welcome this evening from a lot of people, I'm grateful for that."

Ex-Cardiff forward Nathan Blake gives his verdict on the Bluebirds' 5-3 EFL Cup defeat to Southampton.

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Rubin Colwill's omission from Craig Bellamy's first Wales squad means Aaron Ramsey is the only Cardiff City player involved.

However, Ramsey stays as captain as the new Wales era begins in the Nations League fixtures against Turkey in Cardiff on Friday, 6 September and in Montenegro three days later.

Attacking midfielder Colwill was a shock inclusion in Wales’ European Championship squad three years ago.

He scored his first senior Wales goal in March 2022 and went to the World Cup later that year, featuring as a substitute in the group game against England.

But the Cardiff City player switched to the under-21 squad in summer 2023 and also featured for Jones’ team earlier this year.

Bellamy's predecessor Rob Page recalled Colwill to his squad for June friendlies against Slovakia and Gibraltar. Colwill started in the 0-0 draw against the latter, but has not made the cut for Wales' forthcoming games.

It now seems likely Colwill will be back with Wales U21s for their junior Euros qualifier in Iceland on 10 September.

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Omer Riza says Cardiff City are happy with their squad but the assistant coach admits they could make further signings prior to Friday's transfer deadline (23:00 BST).

The Bluebirds have brought in Will Fish, Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Alex Robertson, Wilfried Kanga, Anwar El Ghazi and Jesper Daland during the course of the summer window.

They could bring in an additional striker given the injuries to Isaak Davies and Kion Etete.

Youngsters Raheem Conte and Malachi Fagan-Walcott are among those who could be sent out on loan, while the Bluebirds are also willing to offload midfielder Ryan Wintle.

A decision is also due to be made on the future of Antigua and Barbuda defender Mahlon Romeo after he pleaded guilty to drink driving and abusing a police officer.

While Riza admits there could be more transfer activity at the club in the coming days, Erol Bulut's assistant says the Bluebirds' squad is in a good place as a result of their summer business.

"We've made some good signings," Riza said.

"Potentially there might be more [signings], and if not we're happy with the squad and we're ready to really kick on now."

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Cardiff City Women will face FC Twente in their Champions League first qualifying round on 4 September (18:00 BST) at Sportpark Schreurserve in Enschede.

The game is part of a mini-tournament being hosted by Twente.

The winner will progress to a final against either Valur or ZFK Ljuboten, which will be played on 7 September at the same ground.

There will also be a third-place play-off between the two sides who lose in the opening games.

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Omer Riza hopes Cardiff City's top academy talents will get a chance to impress against Southampton in the EFL Cup.

Erol Bulut is expected to rotate his squad as the Bluebirds welcome Russell Martin's Saints to Cardiff City Stadium for the second-round encounter on Wednesday night (19:45 BST).

And Cardiff assistant coach Riza feels the club's academy is in a good place as Bulut's men go in search of an upset against Premier League Southampton.

"What's important for us is that we've got a good squad," he said.

"We've got a good squad of players and substitutes that are going to get their minutes on Wednesday.

"Our youngsters have done really well this year in the academy - I've been really impressed. Some of the youngsters they've got coming through, they've been really good.

"So hopefully they'll get an opportunity as well, it's good for everyone."

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Cardiff City's assistant coach Omer Riza feels consistency is now the key aim for Rubin Colwill following his impact off the bench against Swansea City.

The Wales international was summoned from the bench in the second-half of the first south Wales derby of the 2024-25 season and played a key role as Cardiff came from behind to draw 1-1 at the Swansea.com Stadium.

And Riza feels Colwill can be at his destructive best when left in space in attacking areas in front of tiring opposition.

"Rubin, when he comes on in games like that when it opens up, he can get front-facing, he can drive at the opposition, create and get balls in the box," said Riza.

"We know his qualities. I think all it is about now for Rubin is consistency.

"He's a young lad so he's still got a lot of time to develop."

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Callum Robinson entered the 2024-25 in blistering form having scored six goals during Cardiff City's pre-season.

The forward has now notched up the Bluebirds' first goal of the Championship season to earn Erol Bulut's men a 1-1 draw with local rivals Swansea City - and their first point of the campaign.

The derby goal after Robinson held clear-the-air talks with manager Bulut over the summer following an injury-hit 2023-24 season in which the frontman scored just once in the Championship.

And former Wales striker Iwan Roberts believes Republic of Ireland international Robinson's goal at the Swansea.com Stadium could help reignite his Cardiff career.

"It wasn't until Erol Bulut made his substitutions - he brought on the likes of Rubin Colwill, Ollie Tanner, the goalscorer Callum Robinson, it was good to see [Anwar] El Ghazi get his first appearance for Cardiff - that they got a foothold in the game," Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"They scored a very good equaliser through Callum Robinson, his first goal of the season.

"He only got one goal in 23 league appearances last season for Cardiff.

"It's been a bit of a stop-start period for him since he joined the football club.

"He'll be hoping this goal against Swansea will kickstart his Cardiff career.

"All in all, I think it was a better point for Cardiff than it was for Swansea."

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Jesper Daland and Anwar El Ghazi were both thrust into the deep end as they were handed their Cardiff City debuts in the 1-1 draw with Swansea City.

Defender Daland played from the outset against the Swans just five days after joining the Bluebirds from Cercle Brugge.

Meanwhile, El Ghazi was introduced as a substitute in the second half as Erol Bulut's men came from behind to claim a point courtesy of Callum Robinson's equaliser after Liam Cullen had put the hosts ahead on 10 minutes.

And the Bluebirds' assistant coach Omer Riza was happy with how the two debutants performed against Luke Williams' outfit.

"He's a really level-headed guy," Riza said of Daland.

"He's come in, got straight on with what we've asked him to do and he takes on board the information.

"He's experienced, he's played a lot of games already at his age.

"It was a really tough game but I think he managed it quite well. He's prepared to take responsibility on the pitch, and I think we can all say it was a good debut for him."

Discussing El Ghazi, Riza commented: "He hasn't played for a long period of time so we do have to be careful with how much we're exposing him.

"We felt today could be a nice day for him to come on. It was a difficult game for him to come on, but I think he's done well. He's an experienced guy, we already know his qualities, he's played at a top level.

"We need more now. It'll come slowly. I think in the next couple of weeks he'll start to get more opportunities and get stronger.

"He's probably not quite ready yet but he's got a lot to give."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

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For only the second time in 13 years, Cardiff City have returned home from Swansea having avoided defeat in the south Wales derby.

No wonder, therefore, that the Bluebirds’ travelling fans celebrated a 1-1 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium as if it was a victory, particularly having seen their team trail for so long after Liam Cullen’s early goal.

When Cullen swept in after 10 minutes, it seemed Swansea were on the way to a ninth victory in the past 12 south Wales derbies.

That feeling did not change during the first half, when Swansea looked sharper and more menacing than a Cardiff side left battling to stay in the game.

But the contest changed after the break, thanks in part to Cardiff improving as a result of their substitutions while Swansea’s changes saw the home side lose their way.

The shift in momentum meant Swansea could not complain when Callum Robinson – who last found the target in November 2023 – met fellow substitute Ollie Tanner’s cross with the cool finish which earned his team a point.

Erol Bulut was presumably wearing a smile after the game, though only those on the Cardiff team bus could tell us for sure after he was sent from the dugout in the closing stages.

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Bulut’s dismissal – after he held on to the ball when Swansea wanted to take a throw-in, prompting a melee – meant he was barred from speaking to the media after the game.

But we can assume he was happy with the way his team fought back to claim a draw on a ground where Cardiff have not had too much to shout about in recent years.

Any point is welcome on derby day, and this one was particularly timely given that Cardiff had taken nothing from the first two league games of the season.

Bulut’s players can now look ahead to back-to-back home games – against Southampton in the League Cup in midweek, and Middlesbrough in the Championship next weekend – in more confident mood.

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We asked for your views on Cardiff City as they prepare for Sunday's south Wales derby.

Here are some of the things you told us.

Jon: Worried that we don’t have the creativity pace and goals again this season and as for Sunday am praying that we can somehow get a result!

Mark: I think if Erol [Bulut] plays [Callum] O'Dowda further up field on left, [Chirs] Willock on the right and [Callum] Robinson up front alongside [Wilfried] Kanga, then [Aaron] Ramsey [Alex] Robertson in the middle with the new defence singing, we have a great chance of winning.

Lee: We have played some great football but ultimately two defeats. With the right tactics I think we should be looking to win the game with the quality we have. Time for Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) to step up.

Paul: Cardiff have to bring in a striker before August window closes. I thought that would have been a priority, but Erol Bulut seems too focused on defenders and midfielders. You can have the best defence and midfield in the Championship but if you haven't got someone up front to put ball in net, you're going to struggle. So Sunday's game away to Swansea will be a draw.

Rhiannon: Bulut's tactics are the same. There is no attacking football being played. We conceded seven goals in two games and then we sell our best defender in [Mark] McGuinness. Give [Jak] Alnwick a start - after that performance against Burnley, [Ethan] Horvath does not merit a starting place. I won't be surprised if in December Bulut is sacked or we are in a relegation battle.

Simon: Poor results don't inspire confidence but it really is early days. The performance against Swansea is for me, much more important than the result. I don't subscribe to the 'win ugly' school of thought as usually, it means 'lose often' because the style of football played is rubbish.

Sion: We have made a few signings and a change in style. I believe we will come good. Watching the Burnley documentary and they struggled until the end of August. We could still come good. I hope a different type of game in the derby helps is gel that little bit quicker.

Lyn: Whilst it’s still early days, the minus seven goal difference and lack of a 'seasoned' striker are concerns. The Swansea game has now become even more important (if that is possible). Patience and a bit of luck will be needed this season.

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Cameron Antwi says it was a “risk” to turn down a new deal at Cardiff City to join neighbours Newport County - but is sure he made the right choice.

The former Fulham youngster made the move down the M4 in the summer.

Though it meant dropping down to League Two, the midfielder opted to sign a two-year deal with the Exiles rather than accepting an offer to remain at Championship side Cardiff.

“I didn’t feel like it was a big decision," said Antwi.

"I felt it was an easy decision, because at my age I want to be playing first-team games and feel I am good enough to.

“So when Newport came about and with the interest they were showing, it was the right decision for me to say no to Cardiff, take a risk and come here to play."

Antwi, 22, began his professional career with Blackpool, making a League Cup appearance for the Seasiders and gaining experience during loans at Southport and Telford.

Having joined Cardiff in 2022, he made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup and impressed enough to be offered a new contract in the summer.

“They offered me a contract a couple of times. They wanted me to stay but I just felt it was the right time to move on and impose myself on first-team football," he said.

“I thought, 'Let's take the risk and go'. I am happy I took that risk and feel it is going well so far.”

Antwi made an eye-catching start to his Newport career, scoring a spectacular goal in a pre-season win over Pontypridd. More importantly, he has started both the club's League Two games to date.

“I like to get on the ball, start attacks and also link up with players," he said.

"But I can also do the other side of the game, win tackles and headers. I feel I am a rounded player.”

London-born Antwi has been joined by former Cardiff team-mate Kieron Evans, who has joined Newport on a season-long loan.

Though Evans' arrival adds competition for a starting berth, Antwi is looking forward to seeing the Wales Under-20 international in an amber shirt.

“He is a very good player, right-footed, left-footed, does set-pieces, can beat his man, can link up and score goals and assists as well," Antwi added.

"It's good to have competition in the team. When you are around good players you want to perform better."