Cardiff City

The latest news and views on the Bluebirds in two minutes, every weekday afternoon.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Former Wales international Iwan Roberts has told the Feast of Football podcast that Cardiff City defender Dylan Lawlor is "going to go to the top", following Wales' most recent international camp.

Lawlor, 20 was praised by head coach Craig Bellamy for his performance in Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

"After his first few performances this season, I said I think in 18 months he'll be playing in the Premier League," said Roberts

"I think he's got everything, comfortable on the ball, doesn't mind breaking the line, he's joining midfield. I think he's an absolute talent."

Former Wales striker Sam Vokes agrees the centre-back could be a huge asset for Wales.

"He's come on leaps and bounds this year, I think since we first saw him out in Kazakhstan at the heart of that defence, he's been a big player and can be a big player for us going forward.

"I think Joe Rodon has made the centre-half position his over the last few years and I think they can really strike up a partnership moving forward now for Wales."

Lawlor returns to club duty as Cardiff continue their push for automatic League One promotion against Peterborough United on Monday, 6 April. Brian Barry-Murphy's side go into the Easter weekend seven points adrift of leaders Lincoln City - but 11 clear of third-place Bolton Wanderers.

Vokes told the Feast of Football podcast that being part of a promotion winning-side will be a positive for the Bluebirds' defender.

"Hopefully, I'm sure he will be part of a successful year in a promotion and that will only add to his confidence."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Craig Bellamy has eased concerns over Dylan Lawlor's fitness after the Cardiff City centre-back was forced off during Wales' draw with Northern Ireland.

Lawlor was sent on as a half-time substitute at the Cardiff City Stadium only to be withdrawn in the final quarter of the game after a heavy challenge from Northern Ireland's George Saville.

Cardiff continue their League One promotion bid with a trip to Peterborough United on Monday – and Wales boss Bellamy is confident Lawlor will not be a fitness concern for Bluebirds counterpart Brian Barry-Murphy.

"He took a kick. He wanted to stay on and I am like 'no, you have got a run-in coming up that you need to be part of'," Bellamy said.

"I am sure he will be fine. It was more of a kick than anything else."

Bellamy said there was no way he would take a risk over Lawlor's fitness having sent on Ethan Ampadu as his replacement.

"Why would I take the chance?" Bellamy added.

"I would love him to be part of a promotion team, what that will do for his development will be incredible for him and the club he is at as well."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Craig Bellamy has praised Cardiff City centre-back Dylan Lawlor for his "outstanding" performance in Wales' World Cup play-off semi-final defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Wales lost in a penalty shootout on Thursday, having drawn 1-1 after extra time at Cardiff City Stadium.

Lawlor, 20, was up against a player twice his age in the form of Bosnia's captain and goalscorer, 40-year-old former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko.

Dzeko, who is 6ft 4in, was one of several physically imposing forwards Bosnia had on the pitch as they chased an equaliser late in normal time.

But Lawlor stood his ground impressively, further enhancing his burgeoning reputation in only his fourth appearance for Wales.

"I liked how robust he was and how he could stand up to a challenge, which is always difficult for young players coming in," said Wales head coach Bellamy.

"I liked how he used his body, how he was able to step onto things. We know his ability with the ball, it's clear for everyone to see.

"Give him the ball and he can develop and commit the game but, off the ball and in duels, I thought he was really exceptional against some really big, physical players. He was outstanding."

Wales' defeat means they miss out on a play-off final against Italy and will instead host Northern Ireland in a friendly on Tuesday night.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Cardiff City legend Nathan Blake believes the Bluebirds are "too good" to fall in to the League One play-offs, but has warned against complacency.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side drew 0-0 at home to Blackpool on Saturday, but are still in the automatic promotion places with seven games remaining.

Cardiff are seven points adrift of leaders Lincoln City but are still 11 clear of third-place Bolton Wanderers.

The Blackpool result was met with boos from some Cardiff City fans yet Blake still feels the club are well placed for promotion.

"Fans are well within their right to come and clear their frustrations of what they're seeing," said Blake.

"They just don't want to see Cardiff get caught and end up getting into the play-offs. I don't think that will happen, Cardiff are too good to fall in to that situation, but I would warn against Cardiff being complacent and make sure they start games at a higher tempo.

"A lot of fans I'm hearing are frustrated with the style of football, but I don't think that's necessarily the problem. The style of football is fine.

"Cardiff, at times, are not playing what they were playing earlier on in the season. They're not doing it at the same sort of tempo."

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

We asked Cardiff City fans for their views on the club's recent form and the end of season run-in.

The Bluebirds' latest League One result, a 0-0 draw with Blackpool, was met with boos by some fans at the Cardiff City Stadium.

With seven games to go of the regular season, will Brian Barry-Murphy's side still maintain their place in the automatic promotion places?

Here are some of the responses we received:

Alun: Their recent home form is worrying, if I said it wasn't I'd be lying. When you see Lincoln's incredible form, despite the pressure, it intensifies those concerns. However, I love this CCFC team and I have faith that, together with our fantastic head coach, we will cross the line for automatic promotion.

Stuart: Can not believe the boos at full time. Was it a great performance? No, but Blackpool came to do a job, and did it well. This City team has given us more joy in the last eight months than we have had in six years. Yes, we've had a bit of blip, but it's such a young side we were always going to at some point. Last time I checked, we're eleven points clear of third, with seven games to go.

Delwyn: If the thinking is that the gap between us and Lincoln is too big, then we have to think the gap between us and Bolton is also.

Tom: You'd not have heard a boo from me at the end - BBM and his team have done us proud this season. I have every confidence we'll get the job done in April. Already looking forward to the trip to the Posh.

Ian: You cannot pass the ball into the net. Feed the runners. Cross the ball don't stop on the wing then go backwards, it's the forwards job to be on the end of the cross. Apart from that I think this group of players could easily win two promotions. That's it. Everything off my chest.

Image source, BBC Sport

Cardiff City's bid to win automatic promotion back to the Championship suffered another setback at the weekend as they were held to a goaless draw at home to Blackpool.

The Bluebirds remain second in League One, but are now seven points adrift of leaders Lincoln City.

They also missed the opportunity to put more daylight between themselves and Bolton Wanderers and Bradford City who also tasted defeat.

With seven games to go of the regular season, is Cardiff's latest run of form giving you cause for concern, or do you still think they have enough quality to finish in the top two?

Let us know your views by clicking here.

Image source, Huw Evans agency

Brian Barry-Murphy says some of his players will turn to supporting their team-mates when Wales host Bosnia-Herzegovina in their World Cup qualifying semi-final play-off on Thursday at Cardiff City Stadium (19:45 GMT).

Former Bluebird Craig Bellamy's squad includes Cardiff defenders Dylan Lawlor, and Ronan Kpakio along with midfield brothers Rubin and Joel Colwill.

"A lot of lads will attend the game on Thursday. It's a big game for all of us, in so many ways, because so many of our players are hopefully going to be involved," said Cardiff boss Barry-Murphy.

If Wales win that, they will face either Italy or Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 31 March at the same venue.

Beyond the international break, Cardiff resume their seven-game League One promotion challenge run-in at Peterborough on Monday, 6 April before hosting Bolton Wanderers the following Saturday.

In the meantime, striker Yousef Salech, whose absence has coincided with a dip in Cardiff's success in front of goal, will progress his recovery from a neck injury suffered on 24 January as he begins a return to training.

Barry-Murphy is also set to welcome Isaak Davies back during the international break after the Wales forward was concussed in Cardiff's 3-0 win at Rotherham United on 7 February.

Barry-Murphy said: "We are just going to just continue to train as normal... and start to prepare for the next fixtures."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City host Blackpool on Saturday (12:30 GMT) with Brian Barry-Murphy adamant his team are in good shape despite their recent dip in form.

With the finishing line looming into view, Cardiff are enduring their trickiest run of a fine season having taken only seven points from their past six League One games.

But the Bluebirds, in second, remain a healthy 10 points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers in the race for automatic promotion.

And despite a midweek home loss to Wycombe Wanderers – when Cardiff had Gabriel Osho sent off before half-time – Barry-Murphy is in confident mood.

"The squad is in a really good place physically. We played Exeter [last weekend] and for large parts it was our most dominant physical performance, so the lads are in a great place," the Cardiff boss said.

"Tuesday night [against Wycombe], the way the game goes, we play with 10 men for such a long period, meaning the result is what it is.

"But physically the lads looked brilliant and I couldn't be happier with them. We will now try to show again that we can win and play really well."

Having been formidable on their own patch for the majority of the season, Cardiff have suffered back-to-back home losses.

They have the chance to make amends as they take on a relegation-threatened Blackpool side who beat Barry-Murphy's team at Bloomfield Road earlier in the season.

"I think we have been so good for so long at home that whenever you do lose a game it seems not normal," he added.

"There were spells last season I am sure where you couldn't win a game at home and it becomes normal.

"The new normal these players have created is that we are brilliant at home, play great football and win games, but we can never take that for granted. We have to fight to try to play well and win [against Blackpool]."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Omari Kellyman has welcomed the imminent return of Yousef Salech – even if it could spell the end of his time as a makeshift striker.

Salech is set to make his Cardiff City comeback after two months out injured when the Bluebirds return to action after the upcoming international break.

In Salech's absence, on-loan Chelsea youngster Kellyman has regularly been deployed up front by Brian Barry-Murphy.

And despite being more used to operating as an attacking midfielder, the 20-year-old has responded by scoring five goals in his past 10 appearances.

"It has been a different challenge but it's definitely one that I have been enjoying," Kellyman said.

"It's a more physical position. You have seen Yousef do it throughout the season, the fights he gets into with centre-halves.

"But I will play wherever Bri [Barry-Murphy] tells me to. I just want to be on the pitch and help in any way I can."

Salech has not played since being carried off with a neck injury during Cardiff's draw with Stockport on 24 January.

Despite his lay-off, the powerful Dane remains Cardiff's top scorer this season with 13 goals.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Kellyman says it is up to Barry-Murphy to decide what role he will play when Salech returns to the Cardiff frontline.

"I am sure whatever he chooses to do will be the right thing," he added.

"Yousef is a goalscorer so if we can have him on the pitch scoring the goals that would be great. Then we just need the players behind him to give him the service."

Kellyman could again lead the line when Cardiff look to respond to their midweek defeat to Wycombe when they host Blackpool on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Barry-Murphy's side are five points behind League One leaders Lincoln City having lost three of their past six games, but Kellyman insists there is no panic in the dressing room.

"One thing that's stayed consistent throughout the season is that we know what we are capable of," he said.

"We know we are not going to get results all the time, but we have proved multiple times throughout the season that what we do works.

"Hopefully a win [against Blackpool] can put us another step in the right direction and carry us into a little bit of form."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says Cardiff City are on course to achieve their goal for the season despite a dip in results hitting their League One title hopes.

Cardiff have led the way in the third tier for much of the season, but have been surpassed by Lincoln City having won only two of their past six league games.

With eight games remaining this season, the second-placed Bluebirds trail Lincoln by five points – but remain 10 points clear of Bolton Wanderers in third.

Roberts says that while it would be "great if they could win the league", Cardiff should be happy with either automatic promotion spot.

"The main objective before the first game of the season was to bounce back to the Championship, however they did it," he told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"They are in a great position. They are five points behind Lincoln who got a 93rd-minute equaliser at Huddersfield [in midweek].

"Bradford only drew, Stockport won but they are not going to catch Cardiff, Bolton drew. It's still in their hands."

After Tuesday's home loss to Wycombe Wanderers, Cardiff have the chance to bounce back when they host relegation-threatened Blackpool on Saturday (12:30 GMT).