Cardiff City

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Chelsea will be without Cole Palmer and Marc Cucurella for Tuesday's Carabao Cup quarter-final trip to Cardiff City.

Palmer, who is managing a groin injury, is being rested and cannot play two matches in a week.

Cucurella is suspended after picking up two yellow cards in the competition. His absence ends a run of 11 consecutive starts and full 90-minute appearances for both club and country.

Defender Jorrel Hato, who has not played for six weeks after struggling against Qarabag in the Champions League, is likely to come in.

Midfielder Moises Caicedo is also in the squad after serving a three-match ban.

"He is available, can play and back finally and - if we decide to use him - he can play," said Maresca.

Academy trio Shim Mheuka, Reggie Walsh and Landon Emenalo trained with Chelsea's first team on Monday but are not expected to be in the squad, having prepared for an FA Youth Cup match at Brentford with the rest of the under-18s squad.

When asked if he will make changes, Maresca said: "We're going to make some changes. We'll see how many, but for sure we have players that in the past 12, 13 days have played five games. So they probably need to recover energy."

Meanwhile, Maresca still does not know when Romeo Lavia will return from injury, but Dario Essugo is believed to be close to a comeback. Liam Delap remains out until 2026.

At Cardiff City, Chelsea have not granted the required written permission for their opponents to use loanee attacker Omari Kellyman in the match.

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Cian Ashford says Cardiff City fans can be "happy Bluebirds at Christmas" after Saturday's last-gasp win against Doncaster Rovers.

The dramatic 4-3 win maintained Cardiff's four point lead at the top of League One and means they will be top at Christmas.

Ashford, 20, scored Cardiff's second and played a big part in the chaotic Joel Bagan winner in the ninth minute of added time.

He said: "It was a tough game, you can sense in the stadium they want that winner so to actually get it was so good.

"That's what football is for, them good memories and good moments."

The forward has two goals and one assist in his last four league games and highlighted the impact of Brian Barry-Murphy on his recent form.

"I just listen to the gaffer to see what sort of advice he can give me and try play with a happy face and a bit of confidence", he said.

The 20-year-old has struck up an impressive partnership down the right flank with fellow Welshman Ronan Kpakio and says they have worked hard to develop a good understanding.

"It's a real good connection now, we know how to move off each other and how we both want the ball off of each other,“ Ashford said.

Cardiff are next in action on Tuesday as they welcome Premier League powerhouses Chelsea to the Welsh capital in the quarter-final of the EFL Cup.

"I'm buzzing and I know the fans are buzzing for it too so we'll just have to see what happens on Tuesday", Ashford added.

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Cian Ashford "carried" Cardiff City in the League One leaders' pulsating 4-3 win over Doncaster Rovers, says head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

Forward Ashford, 20, scored Cardiff's second and struck the shot that led to Joel Bagan's dramatic winning goal in the ninth minute of added time on Saturday.

The Bluebirds academy product has been in fine form lately, exemplified by his first-half goal, which he scored after a determined, 30-yard run past opposition defenders.

"When we looked as if we lost our composure and we were frantic in the way we played the game, Cian Ashford showed the type of composure that we want, and had the real quality action," said Barry-Murphy.

"I thought Cian carried us at times today where we were in need of real quality and when the game wasn't perfect he was the one who had real quality.

"So I'm very pleased with him and all those players who can contribute have to because it's important that we don't rely on one or two players too much."

Cardiff's fifth successive win maintained their four-point advantage at the top of League One.

"Our intention was to play a lot better and have more control in the game, but it didn't work out that way," Barry-Murphy added.

"The most pleasing thing is that we found a way to win and create enough chances to do that. I'm very pleased for the players and the supporters that we managed to win."

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Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says Cardiff City must overcome a "highly technical" Doncaster Rovers to extend their four-match winning run on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Cardiff are four points clear at the top of League One and entertain a Doncaster side who have slipped to 19th in the table after picking up just one victory from their past 12 league games.

Rovers have been in decent form in other competitions during that time, with five wins in the FA Cup and EFL Trophy.

Manager Grant McCann (above) led the Yorkshire club to promotion from League Two last season, and the former Hull City boss has impressed Barry-Murphy.

"Grant McCann's been a great success there and the recent form has probably not been what he would have wanted, but a highly technical team who play really good football," said the Cardiff head coach.

"The challenge for our players again is to find consistency and not take anything for granted. If that remains the case, we'll be fine.

"You have to have an awareness of all these qualities that are in the league. It's the same in the Championship, a lot of different styles at the moment in these leagues.

"The challenges vary from week to week and so different that we have to be able to overcome all the types that we face.

"We're going to play Doncaster on Saturday, who are a highly technical team, who play really expansive football, and we have to be quickly able to adapt to that and try and overcome it."

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Callum Robinson served a reminder of his striking talent by coming off the bench to score a late winner at Stevenage on Tuesday night.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland forward has had to play second fiddle to Yousef Salech in the Bluebirds' attack for much of the campaign, but has still weighed in with six goals for the League One leaders in all competitions.

"I think it was my first touch, so I'll take it and it's always nice to help the team," Robinson said.

"That's what it's about, it's going to be a long season and when I come on to the pitch I just want to score goals and do what I do to get the win."

He added: "No player wants to be on the bench and I don't want to be on the bench, everyone wants to be out there, but everyone is going to play their part and hopefully I can do that."

Robinson's 80th-minute introduction, alongside Isaak Davies and David Turnbull, turned a tight contest Cardiff's way and moved Brian Barry-Murphy's team four points clear of second-placed Bradford City,

"That manager is like that, he wants to win every game," Robinson said.

"We're top of the league and we would have definitely taken a point after winning our game in hand on Saturday (a 3-2 victory against Huddersfield Town).

"But we're at the top and I think that's why, we go for the games, if it's there to be won we try and win the games - we don't try and hold out."

Kick-off at Stevenage was delayed for 15 minutes to give travelling fans, who had endured a long round-trip made worse by Storm Bram, time to make the game.

"They've been great all season, so it doesn't surprise me the numbers that came. Every away game they've been great and we just try and put a performance on for them," Robinson said after the game.

"It was a long journey, I heard the [Severn] bridge is closed... they've come a long way and they'll have a long journey back, but we've tried to make the journey back a little bit more enjoyable."

Cardiff fans will at least have to travel no further than Leckwith on Saturday, when the Bluebirds host struggling Doncaster Rovers on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The visitors are only three points above the League One drop zone and lost 2-0 at home to promotion-chasing Stockport County in midweek.

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Brian Barry-Murphy believes Cardiff City fans are turning heads in League One thanks to the support they are giving his team away from home.

More than 1,300 Cardiff supporters battled adverse weather conditions to see the Bluebirds win 1-0 at Stevenage on Tuesday, with kick-off delayed at the Lamex Stadium due to travel problems for away fans.

Callum Robinson's late goal saw Cardiff move four points clear at the top of the table on the back of four successive league victories.

While his team continue to impress on the pitch, head coach Barry-Murphy says Cardiff's followers are also making a mark with the club playing in the third tier for the first time in 22 years.

"I don't think the stadiums in League One have felt an away support like it for a while," the Irishman said.

"I am not just saying that. We have been to different grounds and all the home supporters say the away support from our people is incredible.

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"You always want to give them what you feel they deserve and luckily [at Stevenage] we could."

Cardiff's winning streak has been the ideal response after successive away league defeats, at Bolton and Blackpool.

Though Robinson's winner did not arrive until the 85th minute, Stevenage could have no complaints as Cardiff became the first visiting team to beat them at home in the league this season.

"It was a big test for us and one where we knew we'd have to show we have improved from certain games earlier in the season where we have struggled," Barry-Murphy added.

"We are fully aware of how topsy-turvy the season can be. It is only a short period since we were 3-0 behind at Blackpool and looking at chance after chance, and [the defeat at] Bolton.

"We are fuelled by that to fire us forward and keep wanting to improve."

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Brian Barry-Murphy reckoned Callum Robinson's winner at Stevenage was a shining example of what Cardiff City need if they are to "achieve together" in League One this season.

Substitute Robinson scored for the first time in more than two months to condemn Stevenage to home defeat in the third tier for the first time this season.

Cardiff's fourth straight league win saw them go four points clear at the top of the table, with Robinson making the difference when he delivered a classy finish just five minutes after coming off the bench.

The 30-year-old forward has scored six goals this season, but has often been used as a back-up option since Barry-Murphy took charge in the summer.

"It's never easy when you want to play more than you have done - I have experienced that feeling myself," said Cardiff head coach Barry-Murphy.

"It's probably the hardest part of being a head coach [leaving players out].

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"[But] you are trying to emphasise the value of all our squad because we have had such an impact from the bench in so many games, and also to look at the big picture of what we can achieve together if we all believe in what we are doing. This is a fitting example of that."

Cardiff had always seemed the more likely winners at the Lamex Stadium, but looked like having to settle for a point after Yousef Salech headed their best first-half chance wide and Joel Colwill hit the bar just before the hour.

However, Robinson secured the victory the Bluebirds deserved when he took a touch to control before guiding home a half-volley from 20 yards.

"Callum hasn't played the minutes he would have wanted to play so far this season - I haven't been able to give him enough of them," Barry-Murphy added.

"But when the ball fell to him in that area of the pitch, it was so clear he was going to find the right finish at the right moment. His quality is undoubted."

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Yousef Salech is now the top scorer in League One and his Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy believes the striker has more to offer.

Salech, 23, scored with two headers in Saturday's 3-2 win over Huddersfield Town to take his league tally for the season to nine goals.

Victory kept Cardiff at the summit of League One and they could strengthen their grip on top spot when they visit third-place Stevenage on Tuesday night (19:45 GMT).

"I think he just has to concentrate on trying to improve all aspects of his game," said Barry-Murphy.

"You've seen how dangerous he is, but obviously he's still a very young striker. He'll be learning a lot from Callum Robinson and how to improve the aspects of his game that Callum is really good at and he's not, and vice versa.

"So he's got a lot of improvement to go and he's a really good lad, and as long as he has the mentality to improve he'll be fine."

Salech has enjoyed a successful first 11 months at Cardiff since joining from Swedish side Sirius for a fee believed to be between £3m and £4m.

He scored nine goals in all competitions during the second half of last season despite the Bluebirds' relegation from the Championship.

The 6ft 5in forward has maintained that strong form in this campaign with 10 goals so far in all competitions.

"Naturally he's very dangerous in the box and our players are really aware of where he moves so we can find him with good crosses," said Barry-Murphy.

"His defensive work for the team was very good. Naturally it can be better, and the demands we want in terms of how he has to press the ball really quickly and really aggressively to make sure he forms the first line of our defence is so important.

"He can improve that a lot as the season progresses. He's a good lad and so much improvement to come is probably the most exciting thing."