Cardiff City

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Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy praised Cardiff City for their perseverance in a "strong-willed" win over Stevenage which kept the Bluebirds top of League One.

Cardiff dominated their promotion rivals on Monday but fell behind against the run of play before fighting back to triumph 2-1 thanks to Yousef Salech's 82nd-minute goal.

A seventh successive home league victory kept Cardiff three points clear at the top of League One, with a game in hand over second-place Lincoln City.

"It's a good place to be. I'd rather be there than anywhere else. Trying to stay there is the challenge," said Barry-Murphy.

"I'm really pleased with the players and the way they played, especially when we went behind in the game.

"It was evident how good they [Stevenage] are defensively. We have the highest regard for Stevenage and what they do, so we knew it was going to be difficult, but the players were even more strong-willed in how they played.

"We train all the time to never give up and to always just look at the next action, the next moment in the game and keep going no matter what the score is. And once that starts to happen in games, it can become a really powerful trait that the players believe it can happen."

In defeating Stevenage, Cardiff secured a seventh straight home league win for the first time since they won promotion to the Premier League under Neil Warnock in 2018.

"We're really grateful for the support," said Barry-Murphy. "Almost 20,000 again on a Monday and the expense for families in December is extraordinary, I know that myself.

"To see so many people come out again after such a short run from the last game, it felt really positive. I know we went behind and it was very disappointing, but I felt as if we were in a pretty good place and we'll create chances.

"And once you attack that Canton Stand, then you can feel the energy increase and increase and it drives the players forward. It's an amazing stadium and amazing support that we're very grateful for."

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Cardiff City forward Isaak Davies is targeting a place in Craig Bellamy's Wales squad next summer should they qualify for the World Cup.

Wales boss Bellamy rewarded the Aberdare-born forward with his first cap during their 7-1 thrashing of North Macedonia in October.

Davies came off the bench and recorded an assist as Nathan Broadhead tapped home his header on the line.

Davies signed for the Bluebirds when he was seven and is now an important part of Brian Barry-Murphy's squad as they target promotion from League One.

"I was waiting for that chance for a long time so it was a special moment when it finally happened," said Davies.

"I thought I'd scored but I'll take the assist."

After making his debut, Davies is now targeting a place in Bellamy's squad for next summer's World Cup - should they be able to make it to North America.

"Of course, that's the main goal," Davies said.

"But first you have to focus on your club and trying to perform every week.

"You have to give yourself the best chance to be in the squad by playing every week and performing there first."

Davies has impressed so far this season, scoring three goals and grabbing one assist in League One.

Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy has praised the forward and will be hoping he can help fire his side back to the Championship at the first time of asking.

"I feel as if he's much more confident in what he can do," Barry-Murphy said.

"That's down to the work that he's put in in training and in games.

"And I think like a lot of our squad I think he's going to be much stronger in the second half of the season."

Image source, BBC Sport

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BBC Sport asked Cardiff City fans if the Bluebirds are still looking good to make an immediate return to the Championship, despite Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Lincoln City?

The Bluebirds still have a three point lead at the top of League One but what areas of the squad would fans like to see strengthened in January?

Here's a selection of replies:

Jon: We need a centre half, a winger or creative midfielder, a striker and cover at left back as Saturday proved that with [Joel] Bagan off we struggled. Defensively we aren't great and can't keep expecting to score one more goal than our opponents as we have done! Great to be top at Xmas but reinforcements needed to push on for automatic promotion IMO!

Steve: Team looked tired on Saturday, understandably so after Chelsea, but Lincoln's subs made a difference and ours didn't. [Callum] Robinson average yet again - no pace and first touch poor. [Kion] Etete is not up to it, so another striker is needed. We continue to look vulnerable at set pieces. Is Lawlor fully fit? Bagan will be missed if injury is serious. Cover needed? [Omari] Kellyman needs to go to the gym and muscle up and [Cian] Ashford is frustratingly inconsistent. A fit [Ollie] Tanner will help but we are definitely missing [Rubin] Colwill. If we are going to be genuine top two, reinforcements are needed.

Mike: I think we will go up, but we need to stop leaking goals so easily. Going forward the team is excellent but that comes with a negative - which is being too open at the back. We need to be tighter defensively.

Rhiannon: I think if we want to stay at the top we need another left back because if Joel Bagan gets injured we have no senior player in that position. BBM seriously needs to sort that defensive partnership out - it changes so often that we are so open to conceding goals. Hopefully we can have Tanner back in January but the main priorities need to be a left back.

Kelvin: In Brian Barry-Murphy I trust; what a fabulous job he is doing and I am confident he can galvanize the squad to automatic promotion. Long may he stay at Cardiff City!

David: BBM should take a lot of credit for creating a footballing philosophy which is both entertaining and effective. This is the only time in my 50+ years of watching City play that so many young players have been in the first team at the same time. They play with high levels of skill, passion and sense of purpose. They are a joy to watch!

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Cardiff City's League One fixture a Barnsley will be played Tuesday, 10 March (19:45 GMT).

The Bluebirds had been due to go to Oakwell on Saturday, 11 October, but the fixture was postponed due to international call-ups.

Cardiff host Lincoln City on 7 March and go to Exeter City on 14 March.

Image source, BBC Sport

Boss Brian Barry-Murphy had said ahead of the trip to Lincoln City that the encounter was "a daunting task" for his Cardiff City side and so it proved to be.

A back-and-forth encounter was eventually won 2-1 by the Imps courtesy of Sonny Bradley's header at a foggy LNER Stadium.

Despite the defeat - which ended a run of five successive wins - Cardiff remain top of the League One table, three points clear of Lincoln who climbed to second but with a game in hand.

Are Cardiff still looking good to make an immediate return to the Championship despite Saturday's defeat?

What areas of the squad would you like to see strengthened in January to continue the promotion push, or is the blending of talent from the academy ranks with the existing squad the blueprint for success this season?

As a hectic festive schedule begins, Cardiff host relegation-haunted Exeter City on 26 December (15:00 GMT) in a fixture that is far less tricky on paper, before another home game against promotion rivals Stevenage the following Monday (19:45 GMT).

What are your predictions and how should Barry-Murphy juggle his playing resources?

Have your say here

Ioan Griffiths

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Cardiff City travel to third place Lincoln City on Saturday (15:00 GMT) as they seek to extend their lead at the summit of the League One table.

The Bluebirds will be looking to make it six wins on the spin in the league, after beating Doncaster Rovers 4-3 last time out.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side also impressed midweek in their 3-1 defeat at home to Premier League opponents Chelsea in the League Cup quarter-finals.

The Club World Cup champions had to rely on late goals to progress after David Turnbull had equalised for the League One leaders.

Barry-Murphy insists his side are staying focused and are expecting a tough encounter at the LNER Stadium.

"I think they've been a brilliant club for a number of years in terms of how they've operated," said Barry-Murphy.

"It's a brilliant stadium to play at and a very daunting task, but one that we're looking forward to."

Lincoln come into the clash unbeaten in their last three games and could boost their automatic promotion hopes with a win on Saturday.

"I think they're one of the best teams in the league, I think it's been obvious for the past two seasons," Barry-Murphy said.

"We have to hope we that we're really competitive on Saturday and we try to win the game like we have done all season."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Before Brian Barry-Murphy's arrival as manager, David Turnbull's Cardiff City career had yet to ignite.

Signed from Celtic in February 2024 for around £2m, the midfielder endured a tumultuous start, hampered by injuries and unable to string together a consistent run of games.

The team itself was struggling, languishing at the bottom of the Championship, and Turnbull admitted: "The first year and a bit was pretty up and down. There wasn't really a structure or game plan."

Barry-Murphy's appointment has transformed the Bluebirds.

Now flying high at the top of League One, Cardiff look on course to make an immediate return to the Championship and Turnbull, finally injury-free and given regular opportunities, is eager to impress.

He delivered the moment which had Cardiff fans dreaming on Tuesday night - a bullet header to level against Chelsea, growing hopes of a Wembley run in the EFL Cup before the Premier League heavyweights pulled away with two late goals.

A delighted Turnbull reflected on the occasion as he described the night as a "great feeling" which carries a "different buzz" and one that left his friends and family "buzzing" for him.

The 26-year-old Scotland midfielder added: "You don't get that out of every game. That was nice, it was a great feeling and it was a good night."

Despite the result, Cardiff were far from overawed by Chelsea, with Turnbull quick to credit Bluebirds manager Barry-Murphy for instilling belief against elite opposition: "He didn't want to sit back and just let Chelsea run all over us.

"I think we performed well in the way that we wanted to, which was great. Just what we've been doing all season, just showing we can do it against the bigger teams. It was brilliant."

Turnbull is equally enthusiastic about life under Barry-Murphy off the pitch, praising the manager's impact on the club: "From the start, as soon as the manager came in, he changed the full way the club's run.

"Since he's come in, he's given us a style of football."

Barry-Murphy's influence has extended to Turnbull personally. Injury-free at last, he has become a regular, making 17 league appearances already this season, equalling his total from the season he joined the club.

"He's been great with me since I came in," Turnbull said.

"I'd say this season I've felt a lot more comfortable and getting to where I want to be and he's helped a lot.

"I used to be a goal-scorer in midfield and that's why I try to get it back in my game.

"Scoring goals and starting [against Chelsea] is a good start and hopefully I can get a few more out at the end of the season."

Injury-free and brimming with confidence, Turnbull is determined to make this campaign memorable: "I'm just looking forward to this year and the rest of this year now, try to kick on and make it a memorable time."

The league leaders travel to promotion-chasing Lincoln City on Saturday, 20 December (15:00 GMT) where the Bluebirds will hope to extend their winning run to six matches and put in another memorable display.

With results improving and momentum building, Turnbull is optimistic: "I think we're on a good run now.

"But I think it's an important period just to rack up the wins, get them under the belt, and try to push away from the pack."

Whether it is another thunderbolt from Turnbull or a collective team effort, the midfielder is finally making his mark in south Wales and relishing life under Barry-Murphy.

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Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is confident there will be no hangover from Tuesday's EFL Cup quarter-final against Chelsea when his team return to League One action at Lincoln City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds impressed against the Premier League titans despite losing 3-1 at a sold-out Cardiff City Stadium.

Now the Welsh club turn their attention back to League One, where they are four points clear at the top of the table and six points ahead of Lincoln in third.

"It's very easy [to focus on the league] if you look at who we're going to play on Saturday, how good they are and how good we're going to need to be," said Barry-Murphy.

"Once Tuesday subsides and you wake up on Wednesday – I would say for me, the cut-off point was Wednesday lunchtime – then you start to quickly refocus when you start to see who we're going to play on Saturday.

"It was an amazing evening for us all, and I'm sure we'll look back on it with fond memories, if not quite as fond as we would have liked it to have been. But it's in the past and we're looking to look to the future now."

Cardiff have no new injury concerns for the trip to Lincoln but striker Kion Etete, who is on loan at Rotherham United, is nearing a return after injuring his thigh in October.

The 24-year-old joined Rotherham 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.

"I think his rehab's going really well," said Barry-Murphy.

"I'm in constant dialogue with James Rowland [Cardiff's head of medical services] and he said he's making really good progress and they anticipate that he'll be back in action pretty soon."

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Robert Earnshaw reckons Cardiff City will do something special this season if they maintain the standards on display in their EFL Cup loss to Chelsea.

Cardiff were beaten 3-1 in Tuesday's quarter-final but emerged from the tie with significant credit having given the Premier League heavyweights a scare.

Brian Barry-Murphy's League One leaders were level at 1-1 and dreaming of a shock after David Turnbull's header cancelled out Alejandro Garnacho's goal, only for Pedro Neto and Garnacho to strike late on and seal Chelsea's place in the last four.

Former Cardiff and Wales striker Earnshaw reckoned his old club produced a "brilliant" performance which bodes well for the remainder of their bid to return to the Championship.

"Performances like that… what it does in the dressing room, it says 'yeah we are playing in League One, but I tell you what, we just went up against a Premier League team and competed for 80 minutes – let's try to do that again'," Earnshaw told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"They have played against one of the best and competed against them, so now you have to take that into the league.

"What a chance Cardiff City have now. I am excited… if they continue playing like that, it's going to be a big season."

Earnshaw picked out winger Isaak Davies and left-back Joel Bagan for special praise.

He also saluted Wales centre-back Dylan Lawlor for his performance despite the error which led to Chelsea's opening goal.

"Dylan Lawlor made one mistake for the goal, but I would always say continue, keep learning because later on, that will actually pay off for you because you'll get better and better if you keep learning from those performances," he added.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

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Enzo Maresca paid tribute to Cardiff City's organisation and intensity following Chelsea's 3-1 EFL Cup quarter-final victory over the Bluebirds on Tuesday.

Chelsea were made to work for their place in the last four, with the Premier League side scoring two late goals to overcome the League One leaders.

"Cardiff are very well organised," said Blues head coach Maresca.

"Off the ball they were very intense and we faced exactly the game that we expected."

Maresca acknowledged that Chelsea encountered "difficulty" in the first half, crediting Brian Barry-Murphy's team for their defensive discipline.

Despite Chelsea's eventual win, Maresca stressed that Cardiff had made the contest far from straightforward.

Cardiff held their own against the Club World Cup holders in a resilient display that offered encouragement as the Welsh side's focus returns to their promotion push.

Cardiff will aim to extend their winning run in the league to six matches at Lincoln City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

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Danny Gabbidon has lauded Dylan Lawlor over the centre-back's response to gifting Chelsea a goal during Cardiff City's 3-1 EFL Cup loss to the Blues on Tuesday.

Wales international Lawlor handed the Premier League side possession cheaply, leading to Alejandro Garnacho striking the opener for the visitors at Cardiff City Stadium in the quarter-final contest.

David Turnbull equalised for Brian Barry-Murphy's men only for late goals from Pedro Neto and Garnacho saw Chelsea progress into the semi-finals.

But former Cardiff and Wales defender Gabbidon was full of praise for 19-year-old Lawlor.

"The young Cardiff players in particular can take a lot of confidence from the performance tonight," he told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"Dylan Lawlor is one of the players who has benefited from Cardiff getting relegated. If Cardiff stayed in the Championship, he probably wouldn't have had these opportunities.

"We've seen him perform so well and he's a Wales senior international already. [Against Chelsea] I thought he was magnificent."

Gabbidon added: "What impressed me most about him, that Chelsea goal, the first one, it comes from him trying to play out, he makes a mistake. He will learn a lot.

"He just shrugged it off, it didn't affect him at all. He will learn a lot from that."

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Cardiff impressed for long periods against Enzo Maresca's outfit and had hopes of securing a major upset when Turnbull headed into the net on 75 minutes.

And while their impressive run in the competition was ultimately ended, Gabbidon feels the Bluebirds can take a huge amount of positives from their showing against Chelsea.

"From a Cardiff City perspective, I thought they gave a great account of themselves," added Gabbidon.

"For them to be able to play against top level opposition and still play the way they want to and cause the opposition problems, to get themselves back into the game with a fantastic goal from David Turnbull, there'll be a lot of positives that the manager can take.

"It's back to the league which is the bread and butter for them, it's important for them to get promotion back into the Championship.

"But it's been a really good night. Even though they got beat 3-1, I think the fans will go home happy and the players will have enjoyed the occasion."