Cardiff City

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

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.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

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.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

"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."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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].

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

"[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."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

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."

Image source, Getty Images

Former Wales frontman Sam Vokes says he is not surprised Cardiff City and Wales defender Dylan Lawlor has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Liverpool are among the top-flight teams who reportedly have an interest in the three-cap Wales international.

"You see that interest coming in, it doesn't surprise me," Vokes told the Feast of Football podcast.

"It wouldn't surprise me if it's just off the back of his international performances because he's been different class and stepped up."

He added: "You see these deals sometimes, a bigger club just want to purchase the player and they might loan him back to Cardiff for six months, that kind of situation.

"You don't know the ins and outs, but I'm really not surprised that the interest is there because he's one that's definitely impressed under BBM (Brian Barry-Murphy) and under Craig Bellamy for Wales this year."

Lawlor has been a pivotal figure under Brian Barry-Murphy at Cardiff this season, featuring 17 times for the Bluebirds across all competitions.

He remains contracted to Cardiff until the summer of 2028 having signed an extension in August.

But ex-Wales forward Iwan Roberts feels the Bluebirds would struggle to turn down a big-money offer for the centre-back.

"I'm not surprised that he's been linked with so many Premier League clubs because I think he's destined to play there," said Roberts.

"If they get a big offer, I don't think they can turn it down. If they got a £10m offer, I don't think Cardiff could turn that down."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City centre-back Gabriel Osho is facing "a few weeks" out after dislocating his toe.

The 27-year-old sustained the injury during Tuesday's 5-1 EFL Trophy defeat at home by AFC Wimbledon.

Osho has struggled since joining Cardiff from Auxerre in the summer for a substantial fee thought to be at least £1m.

Injuries have limited his game-time and, on the occasions he has played, the former Luton Town defender has been uncharacteristically error-prone.

"When he first came in, we were all really keen for him to come in and enhance our squad. His qualities are clear," said Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

"I think from his own point of view, he wants to show everybody what he can do and his team-mates and our supporters. The longer he's been here, it's become more obvious to his team-mates how valuable he's going to be for us in the long run.

"He just wants to show that to the support as well. But it's not going to be possible for a few weeks, based on what happened on Tuesday."

Asked about Osho's struggles, Barry-Murphy added: "I think initially I probably rushed him into the games sooner than I should have.

"He's been finding his rhythm, he's been exceptional in training for us in the past few weeks. And I think you saw on Tuesday night the defensive qualities that he brings to the team that are so important for us moving forward.

"It's just his [earlier] performances were also marked by some mistakes that cost goals. So naturally that takes the area of focus, which is how it is when you're playing that role."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

At 21, Cardiff City's Joel Colwill is a little young to be considered a senior figure.

But the midfielder was asked to lead the way as a youthful Cardiff side took on AFC Wimbledon in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

And despite the Bluebirds' heavy defeat, Brian Barry-Murphy reckons one-cap Wales international Colwill emerged from the tie with credit.

"I am really pleased with Joel," the Cardiff head coach said.

"I thought he supported the younger players really well in the most difficult moments of the game."

In truth, Colwill may have been among the first-team regulars rested for Wimbledon had it not been for the gashed knee he suffered during Cardiff's League One win at Northampton Town 11 days ago.

But with his team back in league action when they host Huddersfield Town this weekend, Barry-Murphy wanted Colwill to get game-time.

"He had a bad knee injury at Northampton and part of [the reason he played on Tuesday] was to get him as fit as we want him based on how important he is to us," he added.

"It was very beneficial to get a full 90 minutes into Joel."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy insisted he had no regrets over his team selection after a youthful Cardiff City side were knocked out of the EFL Trophy.

The Bluebirds were thrashed 5-1 by AFC Wimbledon – who they beat in League One earlier this season – at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

Barry-Murphy made nine changes to the side which started last weekend's league triumph over Mansfield Town, with only Dylan Lawlor and Cian Ashford keeping their places.

Gabriel Osho was included while Joel Colwill captained Cardiff as he returned after injury, but the rest of Barry-Murphy's team was made up of academy players.

When asked whether he regretted his team selection, Barry-Murphy said: "No. If I had my time again I'd go younger."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Barry-Murphy felt that despite the result, the game was another "really good experience" for Cardiff's youngsters.

The Irishman had also given first-team opportunities to a host of younger players during the EFL Trophy group stage.

"We believe fully in our academy. We have seen the fruits of that already this season in terms of players that we have been able to play at first-team level," he added.

"We were aware that Wimbledon have no game on Saturday so that was a full-strength team. The level of challenge was very high for our players and we couldn't compete with the physicality of the opponent throughout the course of the game.

"But in terms of our players, I couldn't be happier with their attitude, their spirit. It's not easy when you lose by such a heavy scoreline and you saw some clear signs of quality throughout the game."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy has said he will stick with youth in Cardiff City's Vertu Trophy last-32 knockout tie at home to AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday, 2 December (19:45 GMT).

The Bluebirds will be looking for back-to-back home wins after their 3-0 victory over Mansfield on Saturday.

However, the Cardiff boss has made it clear that he will again go with youngsters, just as he did in their triumph over Arsenal Under-21s in October.

"For the majority of players who took us through in that game against Arsenal, that was such a memorable night," said Barry-Murphy.

"It'll be a chance for them to continue and to try and play against a more experienced team and try and overcome that challenge to take us as far as we can in the competition."

Five academy graduates were handed their debuts from the start in the victory against Arsenal U21s.

"I think it was brilliant. We had come off the back of a very difficult result away at Blackpool and the energy and the passion that they brought to the stadium in that performance was something that I was very grateful for.

"It demonstrated all the traits that we want to be associated with Cardiff", added Barry-Murphy.

The 47-year-old will be pleased to have youngsters Luey Giles and Dakarai Mafico available for selection against the Dons, both were away on international duty last time out.

The former Manchester City academy coach, however, is under no illusions about the step up in quality.

"A totally different challenge to the Arsenal U21s team.

"Wimbledon have had a sustained period of success getting promoted from League Two into League One.

"This will be a completely different level of challenge for our young players and one that they'll take a lot from. It'll be really interesting to see how we get on."