Cardiff City

Image source, Huw Evans agency

Cardiff City have two aims in the EFL Cup fourth round at Wrexham on Tuesday - beating their Welsh rivals and proving they can compete at Championship level.

The Bluebirds and Wrexham swapped divisions for this season with the Welsh capital side relegated to League One while their north Wales opponents rose to the second tier of English football.

Cardiff have been revitalised by the drop and remain top of League One despite losing to Bolton Wanderers in the league on Saturday while Wrexham lie 16th in the Championship under Phil Parkinson following their 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough at the weekend.

Wrexham have also found home wins hard to come by in the league, registering their first last Wednesday against Oxford United.

It makes for an intriguing build-up to an encounter so rare they last faced each other 21 years ago.

The prospect has stirred excitement among both fanbases, prompting Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy to pledge taking his strongest side to the Stok Cae Ras.

He says that after speaking to supporters he was "left in no doubt whatsoever" about what this game means to them.

Barry-Murphy added: "We were told 'no messing around, bring our strongest squad' and that's what we'll do on Tuesday.

"This is a tie where the whole club is really excited and we're going to take not as many fans as we expect because of the limited number of tickets, but a huge swell of support to go and compete against a team from the same country. It's very exciting."

Barry-Murphy also paid tribute to Wrexham boss Parkinson, whose side have climbed from the National League and dream of a spot in the Premier League with the backing of their Hollywood owners.

"I have real admiration for what Parkinson has done," said Barry-Murphy.

"To earn so many promotions, regardless of the backing, is something I can only dream of."

Barry-Murphy also acknowledged Wrexham's quality, saying: "They're experienced, full of players who've competed at high levels, and they've invested well.

"But we believe we can compete with Championship-level teams. Tuesday is our chance to prove it - and that's exactly what we intend to do."

Cardiff City fell to a late goal away to Bolton Wanderers and the 1-0 defeat at the Toughsheet Stadium will have been tough to take.

It was the first away loss for the Bluebirds in League One this season, although they remain top of the table.

Will the last-gasp loss at Bolton hit Cardiff's confidence or will it be a mere blip as they bid for a swift return to the Championship?

Have your say here

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has said winger Chris Willock is unlikely to be available for their EFL Cup game against Wrexham.

Willock was not included in the Bluebirds squad for the 1-0 defeat at Bolton Wanderers on Satuday.

After the match Barry-Murphy revealed Willock had been sent for a scan on a quad injury suffered in training.

"He had an issue before the international window with his quad," said Barry-Murphy.

"He played through that against Reading, but yesterday he couldn't complete training. We'll have to watch this space on that."

Asked if Willock will be available to face Wrexham on Tuesday, Barry-Murphy said: "I would say no."

The defeat by Bolton was Cardiff's first away loss in League One this season, though the Bluebirds remained top of the table after Bradford and Stevenage drew 1-1 later in the day.

Bolton's winner, scored by Amario Cozier-Duberry, came in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

"It's a very disappointing goal from our point of view," said Barry-Murphy.

"With it coming so late you can't do anything about it.

"When something like that happens it's obviously very disappointing for us all.

"When you don't have enough attacking momentum, you're always in danger of conceding a goal like we did, and today that was the case."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy is relishing the encounter between his own side who he views as "one of the best" in League One against the team he is told "are top of the league on so many different metrics".

League leaders the Bluebirds go to Bolton Wanderers, in eighth, on Saturday aiming for a third consecutive league win.

Barry-Murphy's side will be hoping to continue their momentum following a 2-1 victory against Reading at Cardiff City Stadium last Saturday.

"I believe we're one of the best teams in the league ourselves and our intention is to go and show that on Saturday," said the Cardiff manager.

"I think we've seen from week to week how difficult this league is and the level of challenge is consistently high.

"Everyone in the club tells me that they [Bolton] are top of the league on so many different metrics and they have one of the best teams, it's clear.

"To give ourselves a chance to win, we'll have to be at our absolute best."

Cardiff's form in the league has made supporters optimistic of an immediate return to the Championship. Yet, fans have not been entirely satisfied by the goals conceded in the last few games.

"I think with such a large number of supporters, if there is a performance that doesn't quite reach the levels that we've come to expect, it's natural that there is going to be disappointment," added Barry-Murphy.

"Our intention is to give them more and more periods of the games where they feel excited and less of the ones where they get frustrated."

Bolton, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their strong finish in a 2-1 win at Huddersfield as they set their sights towards the play-off places.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City are top of League One having taken 26 points from their first 12 third-tier games under Brian Barry-Murphy.

Is momentum with the Bluebirds as they look to make an immediate return to the Championship, or are there any concerns that defensive frailties could dent their promotion bid as the season develops?

We asked Cardiff's fans for their views.

James - I don't really buy into the narrative that we have defensive 'frailties'. Yes, compared to our extraordinary start to the season we've shipped a few goals recently but we still have the joint second best defensive record in the division. We're just going through an unfortunate spell where our centre-back partnerships are being disrupted through injuries/knocks to a few players and loss of form for one (Osho). Our young team is still finding its feet and continue to play a brave possession-based game, so the odd mishap is bound to happen and there'll still be many twists and turns to come. Top of the table with the joint second best defence and second best attack doesn't sound like much of a cause for concern to me!

Greg - I really feel Cardiff City's defence looks rather weak at present. Only heroic goalkeeping and a fair amount of good fortune have prevented more goals from being conceded. [Gabriel] Osho is clearly out of form and doesn't look comfortable in his current position. BBM (Brian Barry-Murphy) brought him in over the summer, but shouldn't feel obliged to play him, as doing so is currently detrimental to the team's overall performance and results - and it's the latter that ultimately counts!

David - Still early days. The tough winter schedule when injuries and suspensions kick in may expose our small and young squad.

Alex - Don't understand why we're so high up the table. Mid-table side at best. Give away far too many chances and we're outplayed by most teams. All I can think is that the standard of finishing in League One is atrocious.

David - I believe that there is cause for concern for home matches and so many defensive flaws considering the strong start and minimal goals conceded until now. If it were not for [Nathan] Trott, we could easily lost 7-2 [on Saturday], Reading so unlucky.

Nigel - There are a few things to address and we are fortunate to have Nathan Trott in goals. Fish and Lawlor seem to be our best partnership but injuries have meant a different pairing every game recently. However it's midfield that feels more of a concern as it is too open and needs addressing in personnel and shape/tactics. The continued absence of Alex Robertson remains mysterious but he is exactly the player who can make a huge impact in our engine room.

Image source, Rex Features

Kion Etete may be facing the prospect of seeing a second loan spell away from Cardiff City ruined by injury.

The 23-year-old striker joined Rotherham United on loan for the 2025-26 season in August, but has managed only five starts – plus four substitute appearances – for the Millers and is yet to score for the Yorkshire club.

Etete has not been helped by fitness troubles, with groin and knee injury issues preceding a significant quad injury.

He is expected to be out until Christmas at the earliest, prompting suggestions that he may even return to Cardiff when the transfer window opens in January.

Whether that happens remains to be seen, but these are frustrating times for former Tottenham youngster Etete, who joined Cardiff for around £500,000 in 2022.

Etete spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers, but was restricted to five substitute appearances there thanks in part to hamstring problems.

Etete, who is under contract at Cardiff until 2027, can only hope for a change of fortune as he looks to revive his Bluebirds career at some point down the line.

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Chelsea loanee Omari Kellyman hopes his performances for Cardiff City can go some way to assuaging doubts about his fitness.

The 20-year-old winger joined League One leaders Cardiff on a season-long loan deal in September in a bid to kickstart his promising but injury-hit career.

Kellyman had corrective surgery on persistent hamstring issues in March, having been limited to just four appearances for Chelsea Under-21s since joining in a £19m deal from Aston Villa in 2024.

He has yet to manage a single minute of first-team football at Stamford Bridge but is now playing for Cardiff - and he marked his first league start for the Bluebirds with a goal in Saturday's 2-1 win over Reading.

"I've been working hard. I had a tough year last year and I'm just trying to find my feet again, so I think it's a good step in the right direction," said Kellyman.

"I feel good. Every game I'm getting more and more confident in my body that I can push and keep building. So yeah, I think it's been another positive step. It's the longest I've played in a game in a long time.

"That was a big question mark over my head, my fitness. So being in a position where I've not been for a long time, where I'm playing games week in, week out now, I just think the confidence is going to come with that."

Kellyman's goal against Reading - a second-half equaliser as Cardiff came from behind to win - was his first in what was his seventh appearance for the Bluebirds.

Victory returned them to the top of League One and, as well as playing for a winning team, the England youth international is enjoying the style of play under head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

"We're a team who like to dominate games," Kellyman added.

"So me being an attacking player, it's great really, getting a lot of the ball and then I get to showcase what I want to do."

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy reflects on his side's 2-1 win against Reading in League One.

Match report: Cardiff beat Reading to return to top of League One

Another week and another dig-deep win by Cardiff City saw them return to the top of League One, as Brian Barry-Murphy's side again had to come from behind at home to see off Reading 2-1.

Is momentum with the Bluebirds to make an immediate return to the Championship, or are there any concerns that defensive frailties might knock their promotion push off course as the season develops?

Have your say here

Image source, Rex Features

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has seen for himself the kind of threat Reading will pose to his team in their League One encounter in south Wales on Saturday (15:00 BST).

With Cardiff sitting out last weekend's action due to international call-ups, the Irishman went to Exeter City to watch their 1-1 draw with the Royals.

Former Wrexham striker Jack Marriott scored for the sixth successive match to put Reading ahead but their inability to hold on to their lead saw them drop into the relegation zone.

Reading have been beset by problems on and off the field in recent years, but Noel Hunt's side have improved in recent weeks having gone four matches unbeaten, albeit with three draws in their past three games.

"They're a very big club in this division and I went to watch the game against Exeter in person to get a feel of the qualities the have," said Barry-Murphy.

"When we're so busy watching games on video, sometimes you can watch a lot of different things but you don't quite get a feel of the quality of the players or what the intricacies of their play are.

"So I went to that game against Exeter and you saw that the squad is chock-full of highly talented players who've played at a much higher level.

"Where they are in the league is obviously not where they would want to be currently but it just gave me a great insight into the talent they possess and what we'd have to do to overcome it."

Having been born and raised in Cork, Barry-Murphy knows Hunt, who is from Waterford, which is also in the Irish province of Munster.

"I would have known Noel from an early age," said Barry-Murphy.

"He's from close to me in Ireland, so always you watch each other. There's more and more Irish head coaches coming to the fore in this country, which is great for us."

Chris Willock previews Cardiff City's League One fixture with Reading and speaks about his time with the Bluebirds so far.

Brian Barry-Murphy looks forward to Cardiff City's home game against Reading, reflects on the international break and gives an injury update.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Alex Robertson's absence at Cardiff City remains something of a mystery.

The midfielder was a first-team regular as the Bluebirds were relegated from the Championship last season, but has yet to play a single minute in this campaign.

Robertson missed the first few games with a leg injury he sustained during pre-season and, despite being available for selection for more than a month now, the Australian has been repeatedly left out of Cardiff's matchday squads.

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has previously said that Robertson needed to match the "intensity" of his fellow midfielders to regain his place in the team.

The 22-year-old was in Australia's squad for their friendly matches in the United States and Canada over the past week, but did not feature in either game.

"He's really keen to be at the forefront of the manager of Australia's mind," said Barry-Murphy.

"I think Alex wants to get in front of him and show him what he can do and hopefully when he comes back here, he can build on whatever he's done over the past two weeks when we see him tomorrow and push the season forward."

Asked if Cardiff Under-21s matches might help Robertson work on his fitness and aforementioned "intensity", Barry-Murphy replied: "No."

The Irishman then added: "Our focus is on putting Alex in the position where he can compete, get in the squad and play for the team and he doesn't need to play in the Under-21s from my point of view."

Barry-Murphy also explained why goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, another player who has not featured this season, was not in the 2025-26 squad photo which was released earlier this month.

"Jak's not with us currently," said Barry-Murphy. "He's back in Newcastle for personal reasons and he's dealing with that."

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Chris Willock is finally beginning to enjoy life at Cardiff City – and show what he is capable of – after a miserable first season for the winger.

There were high hopes for the Arsenal academy graduate when he joined Cardiff from then-Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers in the summer of 2024.

But the Bluebirds endured a torrid campaign in which they finished bottom of the table and were relegated to League One.

Cardiff have made a good start to their first season in the third tier for more than two decades, sitting in third place, two points off leaders Stevenage.

In 10 league appearances, Willock has already scored as many goals as he did last season – two – while he has provided more assists, with three so far.

"It was difficult," he said about the previous campaign. "I don't want to point fingers at anyone. I had to look at myself and I don't think I was good enough.

"These things in football happen. For any player in the world, it's not a smooth sailing career and it's about just keep going and keep believing in yourself.

"I know my qualities, I know what I could bring to any team, so I think this season has been a bit better. I've still got a lot more to show and improve.

"I think as a collective, as a team, we've done really well this season and I'm looking forward to the future here."

Cardiff appointed Brian Barry-Murphy as head coach following their relegation to League One, and the former Manchester City Under-21s boss has enjoyed a promising start to his tenure.

As well as turning results around, the Irishman has given young players a chance and transformed the team's playing style into something far more ambitious and attack-minded.

Barry-Murphy has been impressed by Willock's performances, and has told the 27-year-old he wants to see him provide more match-winning moments.

"I've enjoyed my time under Brian so far. I think he sees the game how I want to play, so it's been easy to play under him really," said Willock.

"He demands a lot, as he's said, and I think that's good from any manager in order to get the best out of players.

"He shows that he cares, his passion, his mentality to win, and I think that's always crucial in any good side.

"He shows his belief in you, that obviously fills you with confidence as well, to unlock a defence or create something for the team."