Cardiff City

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Cardiff City will be aiming to secure a third successive league win for the first time since September when they host Huddersfield Town on Wednesday.

The Bluebirds triumphed at Bristol City last Saturday, having beaten Stoke City a week earlier.

Those victories followed a run of one win in eight games for Cardiff and the recent upturn in form has taken Erol Bulut's side up to 11th in the Championship table.

Huddersfield are only clear of the relegation zone thanks to their goal differencex, but, as they proved with Saturday's draw against high-flying Leeds United, they're rediscovering some form.

Cardiff will hope Wednesday's game will go the way of the reverse fixture in October, when they thrashed the Terriers 4-0.

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Cardiff City forward Callum Robinson played the first 45 minutes as the Bluebirds' under-21 side were beaten 3-1 by their Ipswich Town counterparts on Tuesday.

Robinson has not played since the FA Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in early January due to a combination of illness and injury.

But the 29-year-old is edging closer to a senior return after his appearance for Darren Purse's under-21 side.

Cardiff led the game at half-time through Joel Colwill's goal, but three second-half strikes gave Ipswich victory.

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Former Cardiff City star Nathan Blake says the Bluebirds' position as the Championship’s set-piece kings is nothing to be ashamed about.

But the ex-Wales forward says Erol Bulut’s side's ongoing inability to create from open play is a worry and that the strikers should not shoulder all the blame.

Blake watched his former side pick up a Severnside derby victory at Bristol City at the weekend, the game decided by Perry Ng’s header.

It was the defender’s sixth of the season – making him the side’s joint top scorer alongside Kion Etete.

It was also Cardiff’s 18th of the season from a set-piece (not including penalties) – the most in the Championship, and five more than second-best Ipswich.

“They all count,” said Blake during Saturday’s Call Rob Phillips. “You will practice them in training so you can’t diss someone for scoring from set-pieces.

"If you get three corners, score all three, it’s a 3-0 win and no-one will argue. But the question you ask is about the goals from open play.”

Indeed, the Bluebirds have only mustered 17 goals from open play, the lowest in the division and one behind Stoke, while are yet to score from a counter-attack.

It should not be a surprise if you read the statistics for expected goals (xG), with Cardiff's xG (35) lower than the actual non-penalty goals they have scored (37) – suggesting not a case of missing chances, but not creating them away from dead-ball situations.

“It’s a good thing defenders are scoring goals; Ng with six, [Dimitrios] Goutas with four," Blake added.

"You want your defenders to get to those numbers, but it’s open play – to have more set-piece goals and no counter-attack goals when it’s been your forte to sit deep and try and counter – that’s a worry.

“If you’re a striker you might walk around the dressing room like it’s alright [that a defender is leading scorer], but it would bother you – it should bother you.

“I’d like to a see a stat on the amount of chances that are converted or not, because if you’re getting chances only every two or three games there is a tendency – especially with young or inexperienced strikers – to snatch and not be patient and calm in front of goal. The pressure is on because you have one chance and you have to take it as you’re not going to get one for another three games.

“Next season you’d want to severely improve the open play and add the set-piece numbers on top of a striker with 20 goals, then looking at being in the right half of the table when you’re talking about promotion.”

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We've asked for your views on Cardiff City, and you haven't held back.

Erol Bulut's side earned a second successive league win at Bristol City last Saturday, taking them up to 11th in the Championship table.

But not all Cardiff fans are happy. Here's what you've had to say.

David Rundle: Cardiff have won their last two games but they are still playing boring football. They haven’t got a leader, if they play the same type of football next year and luck is not with them like this year they will be relegated.

Rhiannon: Since the first home win since December something has changed in Bulut. He has a new found passion for the club and has built deeper connections with the fans. The tactics have changed and clearly they are working. The tempo is much faster and the players seem to want to win and play more.

Mark: Bulut is improving Cardiff slowly. [Kion] Etete needs more goals to prove he is a good striker. Hopefully we can win on Wednesday at home [against Huddersfield].

Lyn: We need to recruit a proven goal scorer during the summer. Watching Kieffer Moore (and Ike Ugbo) scoring at will is very frustrating.

Andrew Watt: Make it three in a row against Huddersfield. Come on Bluebirds.

Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts on all things Cardiff City using this form, external...

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Cardiff City made it back-to-back Championship wins as they overcame Bristol City at Ashton Gate last Saturday.

No wonder, then, that the Bluebirds' fans are feeling better about their team's prospects after an earlier run of one win in eight games.

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

Leanne: Yes, Bluebirds, blimey my nerves. Three precious points.

Bethan: Fantastic game for Cardiff, well done today. Come on boys.

Jordan: Big win and a derby double. Very happy indeed.

Got an opinion? Let us know your thoughts on all things Cardiff City using this form..., external

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The second south Wales derby of the season is only a fortnight away and Erol Bulut will be entitled to make the short trip west to Swansea in confident mood.

Bulut’s Cardiff City, after all, have not put a foot wrong on their three derby days so far this season.

Saturday’s 1-0 win at Ashton Gate means Cardiff have done the double over Bristol City in 2023-24, following a 2-0 home victory over the Robins back in October.

Now comes the local squabble that really matters, at Swansea City, with Cardiff chasing a first league double over their fiercest rivals having won the home fixture against the Swans 2-0 last September.

“I enjoy winning games. It’s a great feeling for the players, for the team, for the fans,” Bulut said after Perry Ng’s goal proved decisive at Bristol City.

“I think it was a hard won three points against Bristol City in a derby. This season we are doing well in derbies.

“The first part of the season, we did well against Swansea and Bristol. Now we are continuing that.

“But generally for the confidence, it’s a really big step to have that win against Bristol in a derby.”

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Erol Bulut is hopeful Cardiff City forwards Karlan Grant and Kion Etete will quickly return to action despite injury concerns.

Grant missed Saturday’s win at Bristol City because of a calf problem picked up during last weekend’s win over Stoke City.

And Etete was substituted early in the second half at Ashton Gate after going down clutching his groin.

“I think with the abductor, he (Etete) has stiffness,” said Cardiff manager Bulut.

“That’s why we changed him. I think it’s nothing serious.”

Cardiff return to action when they host Huddersfield Town next Wednesday, and Bulut is hopeful on-loan West Brom player Grant will be available.

“From the last game he had a problem with his calf, but from what I know from him and the medical staff, he can be with us on Wednesday,” he said.

Callum O’Dowda came off the bench against former club Bristol City for his first appearance in more than seven months.

The Republic of Ireland international is back in action after groin surgery.

“For him it was not easy - we didn’t want to put him on too early,” Bulut said.

“It’s not easy after a long time out, but step by step he will get better.”

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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."