Cardiff had a good week last week, and it’s been a while since the last one. The goalless draw with Blackburn will not win any awards, but there were clear signs of progress. Coming off the back of a thrashing at Norwich, a clean sheet was a big step in the right direction, but there was also an evident press, a better shape and opportunities created. All of the above are not necessarily a given.
For some, it was still far from good enough and in fairness, the qualities mentioned above should come as standard, but with injuries starting to take their toll and confidence low, any signs of progress should be welcomed and embraced. They stepped things up against Stoke, who are admittedly on their knees at the moment, but it was Cardiff’s best performance in weeks and it was built upon the foundations laid against Blackburn.
It couldn’t have been timed any better either because here comes the Severnside derby!
Embed from Getty ImagesErol Bulut divides the room these days, but back in late October when he oversaw his second derby victory, his stock couldn’t have been higher. Rubin Colwill’s winner was a goal for the ages and Cardiff were flirting with the play-off places, against all odds. Having made a blistering start to the season, Cardiff’s form since the start of October has been in and around the bottom three and while that hasn’t been reflected in the league standings, you can certain feel it in the air.
Bristol City away tomorrow followed by Swansea City away in a couple of weeks, couldn’t have come at a better, or worse time. Those early victories cemented Bulut’s status at the club. This was someone that ‘gets’ these games and had taken a group of players that were scarred by a few years of hard times and revitalised them. Fast forward four months and it feels like those first couple of months are still propping up Cardiff’s season.
The last week has been a timely reminder of late summer/early autumn Cardiff because February was otherwise the month where some had gone from championing Bulut’s case for a new deal to calling for his head. You could sense that he was starting to feel it too because he was getting increasingly prickly, as every other club below him in the table had already replaced their manager.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was instructive to hear the crowd chant Bulut’s name on Saturday because he really needed that affirmation. It also served to demonstrate that the internet is not real life, so the mood on social media, which always veers from one extreme to the other, is not always a fair reflection of the overall mood.
Everything feels like its still on a razor’s edge though, which is why these games may prove pivotal. For the remainder of the season and for Bulut’s long-term future.
These are the games that tend to get managers the sack. Neil Warnock left after defeat against Bristol, while Steve Morison and Mick McCarthy never recovered from Swansea humiliation. I don’t sense that there is any appetite at the club to replace another manager anytime soon, but I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that these two games could directly affect Bulut’s chances of earning a new deal and remaining at the club beyond this season.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt’s a mixed bag on the injury front, with Aron Ramsey again laid low, but Callum O’Dowda, who probably had this fixture in his sights, is finally fit and healthy. He has been a major loss this season and he could provide a real injection of pace and tenacity in the final couple of months, as others start to show signs of wear and tear.
Cardiff and Bristol currently have the same number of points and neither are yet secure enough that they don’t have to worry about looking over their shoulders. A win for either could propel them through the next few weeks, while a damaging defeat could initiate a sinking feeling all too familiar to Cardiff. Bulut needs to prove that he’s still the right man for a derby because while it’s a game like any other, they matter so much more. To the supporters and to your career prospects.