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Since Omari Kellyman netted in the 87th minute of the 4-1 victory over AFC Wimbledon on 17th February, Cardiff City have played exactly five hours of football at the CCS without scoring a goal (273 minutes of regulation time and 27 minutes of additional time). Given how free-scoring the side had been up until that point, I don’t think any of us would have predicted that could happen.
Indeed, the Bluebirds have only failed to score in four home League One games this season - the 0-1 defeat to Burton back in September and the last three matches (0-2 v Lincoln, 0-2 v Wycombe and 0-0 v Blackpool).
The last time City failed to score in the three consecutive home games was December 2024, when the side suffered 0-2 defeats to QPR, Preston and Sheffield United under Omer Riza’s management.
After that handsome victory over Wimbledon, City were four points clear of Lincoln at the top of the table and twelve points ahead of third-placed Bolton. Within the space of little over a month, the side’s title challenge seems to have evaporated and we’re now seven points behind Lincoln but, thankfully, the gap to third is still eleven points.
While it’s not been a popular opinion, I’ve been saying for months that I reckon some of our players and the team in general are overrated, and I think the last seven games have demonstrated why I’ve held that belief. Having said that, I think the manager also has to shoulder some of the responsibility for the recent slump.
There’s no doubt that Brian Barry-Murphy has done a fine job since he arrived, but his halo seems to have slipped a bit during a month in which he’s selected some questionable starting line-ups and made some odd tactical decisions.
Ever since Rubin Colwill returned to full fitness, BBM has seemingly been determined to shoehorn Colwill and Kellyman into the same side, but that plan has only worked in the 4-0 victory over a hopeless Exeter outfit who are lurching towards relegation on a run of 13 games without a win. Meanwhile, the manager’s decision not to bring on either Will Fish or Calum Chambers after Gabriel Osho had been sent off against Wycombe was just plain weird.
While I wasn’t one of those booing at the final whistle yesterday, I can fully understand the frustrations of those who were. The apparent lack of urgency, the painfully slow build-up play and the passing around at the back for the sake of it against a team in the relegation zone was not a good watch.
When it became apparent that we were going to have a 16-day break between games, I thought it would be detrimental to our promotion challenge, but on reflection I think it’s coming at a good time. A few of the players are looking jaded and the manager needs to have a rethink. I’ve no doubt whatsoever that City are going to be promoted by a comfortable margin, but the season is currently in danger of petering out, which would be a shame considering how positive it has been for the most part.
Indeed, the Bluebirds have only failed to score in four home League One games this season - the 0-1 defeat to Burton back in September and the last three matches (0-2 v Lincoln, 0-2 v Wycombe and 0-0 v Blackpool).
The last time City failed to score in the three consecutive home games was December 2024, when the side suffered 0-2 defeats to QPR, Preston and Sheffield United under Omer Riza’s management.
After that handsome victory over Wimbledon, City were four points clear of Lincoln at the top of the table and twelve points ahead of third-placed Bolton. Within the space of little over a month, the side’s title challenge seems to have evaporated and we’re now seven points behind Lincoln but, thankfully, the gap to third is still eleven points.
While it’s not been a popular opinion, I’ve been saying for months that I reckon some of our players and the team in general are overrated, and I think the last seven games have demonstrated why I’ve held that belief. Having said that, I think the manager also has to shoulder some of the responsibility for the recent slump.
There’s no doubt that Brian Barry-Murphy has done a fine job since he arrived, but his halo seems to have slipped a bit during a month in which he’s selected some questionable starting line-ups and made some odd tactical decisions.
Ever since Rubin Colwill returned to full fitness, BBM has seemingly been determined to shoehorn Colwill and Kellyman into the same side, but that plan has only worked in the 4-0 victory over a hopeless Exeter outfit who are lurching towards relegation on a run of 13 games without a win. Meanwhile, the manager’s decision not to bring on either Will Fish or Calum Chambers after Gabriel Osho had been sent off against Wycombe was just plain weird.
While I wasn’t one of those booing at the final whistle yesterday, I can fully understand the frustrations of those who were. The apparent lack of urgency, the painfully slow build-up play and the passing around at the back for the sake of it against a team in the relegation zone was not a good watch.
When it became apparent that we were going to have a 16-day break between games, I thought it would be detrimental to our promotion challenge, but on reflection I think it’s coming at a good time. A few of the players are looking jaded and the manager needs to have a rethink. I’ve no doubt whatsoever that City are going to be promoted by a comfortable margin, but the season is currently in danger of petering out, which would be a shame considering how positive it has been for the most part.
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