Cardiff City

Listen to Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy chatting with Dafydd Pritchard ahead of the game against West Ham on Wednesday.

The Hammers will be managerless after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked on Tuesday.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City have been spared the prospect of losing key players in January after the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was postponed over security fears.

Perry Ng and Alex Robertson were likely to have been called up for the 24-team tournament that was scheduled to take place from 7 January to 5 February.

Liverpool-born defender Ng, 30, was hoping to be selected by Singapore - the country of his paternal grandfather - and has recently been granted Singapore citizenship.

Midfielder Robertson, 23, was expected to be in Australia's squad for the tournament.

It could have meant Ng and Robertson missing as many as five Championship matches while they were on international duty.

But the pair will now be available for Brian Barry-Murphy's side after the Asian Cup was rescheduled to run from 23 December 2027 to 21 January 2028.

West Ham United step into a future without Nuno Espirito Santo on Wednesday when they visit Cardiff City (19:45 GMT).

The Hammers sacked their Portuguese boss on Tuesday after two successive losses left them in eighth place on the table.

Cardiff, meanwhile, will try to put their weekend loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers behind them as they try and build themselves up the table.

• Cardiff City won their last league meeting with West Ham in March 2019 (2-0), last winning consecutive league games against the Hammers in April/September 1950.

• West Ham have won four of their last five league games against Cardiff City (L1), a run which started with a 2-0 victory on their last Championship visit to the Bluebirds in March 2012.

• West Ham have already won 1-0 at Swansea this season – they've never won two away games against Welsh sides in the same league campaign before.

• Cardiff are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season, winning the last three in a row (D3). They last won four consecutively in this division in October/November 2024.

• West Ham are unbeaten away from home in the league so far this season (W3 D3), winning their last two by an aggregate score of 7-0. They last won three in a row on the road in October 2021, while they last did so without conceding between April and September 2007 (4 in a row).

Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy reacts to his side's 3-0 defeat at Wolves, which leaves the Bluebirds searching for a first away Championship win of the season.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says speculation over the Cardiff City future of striker Callum Robinson is "irrelevant".

The 31-year-old has been left out of the Bluebirds squad for the past two games, initially being overlooked for the 2-2 draw at Middlesbrough on 17 October for a breach of internal squad standards.

Despite returning to training he was also absent for the 1-0 win against Birmingham a week later leading to fans questioning whether he has a long-term role at the club.

"All the stuff about speculation, about what's going on in the future is irrelevant to me," said Barry-Murphy.

"It's game by game for us always."

Robinson, who is contracted to the club until the summer of 2027, has made just nine league starts since the Irishman took charge at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Prior to Barry-Murphy's arrival he was the club's top scorer and player of the season for 2024-25.

But when pressed on Robinson's future prior to Saturday's Championship game at Wolves, Barry-Murphy would not give much away.

"All the players want to play," he added.

"I would like to play them as much as I could but I can only play certain players and try and pick the best team for every game based on what I see."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City winger Ollie Tanner says people writing them off gives him "fire" to prove them wrong.

The Bluebirds have lost just once in their last five games ahead of Saturday's trip to Molineux to face Wolverhampton Wanderers.

And despite being amongst the pre-season favourites for relegation with some bookmakers, Cardiff find themselves above Wrexham in the Championship table in 16th place after 12 games.

And Tanner, who has scored two goals in his last three games, has revealed the team have used that as motivation.

"A lot of people doubted us before this season and wrote us off," the 24-year-old said.

"So every game is just another opportunity to show what we can do to the league, to ourselves, to the fans, to everyone.

"So, yeah, we see it as another opportunity to prove ourselves.

"I love it personally [when people write you off], it gives me more fire to go and prove people wrong.

"That's what I've done all my life, so I think a lot of the boys are like that.

"When they see people writing you off, it gives you that little bit of extra motivation to go and prove people wrong."

Despite starting every Championship game so far this season, Tanner has faced personal criticism from some fans over his performances.

But he says it is not something that affects him.

"It's football," he added. "People have their opinions and people can say what they want, they're entitled to, it doesn't bother me.

"It's the same way that when I'm getting goals and assists and playing well, people are going to big you up.

"When you're not playing so well people are going to dig you out.

"It's football, you've got to take it. Don't ever get too high when you're doing well and don't ever let yourself get too low when it's not going so well.

"You've just got to roll with it."

Wolverhampton Wanderers will be trying to take a place in the automatic promotion spots as they host Cardiff City on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Fourth placed Wolves are just two points shy of second placed Swansea City as it stands.

Cardiff, meanwhile, sit firmly in the midtable in 16th and will be hoping to continue their three-match undefeated run (W2 D1) to ascend closer to the promotion chasers.

• Wolves have alternated between winning and losing across their last six home league games against Cardiff City (W3 L3), winning their last 2-0 in March 2019.

• None of the last 12 league meetings between Wolves and Cardiff have been drawn, with the Bluebirds winning seven times to Wolves' five in that time.

• Wolves have won three of their last five home league games (D1 L1), as many as in their previous 22 at Molineux (D7 L12).

• Cardiff are one of three teams – along with Preston and Watford – yet to win an away match in the Championship this season (D2 L4).

• Cardiff's Ollie Tanner has created more chances from open play than any other player in the Championship this season (25), while only Finn Azaz (5) has more open play assists than his four.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales midfielder Rubin Colwill will return for Cardiff City's Championship trip to Wolves on Saturday.

The 24-year-old has not played since the 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth on 5 September because of an ankle injury, missing the past seven matches.

"Rubin's been flying so he's good to go," said head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

"A player of his calibre for us is huge. He's a very important player for us and just gives us so much flexibility in how we can approach games.

"To have him back fully fit is very important for us. We haven't rushed him so he's in a really good place and hopefully he'll remain that way for the rest of the season."

Last season Colwill scored nine goals as vice-captain to help the Bluebirds win promotion from League One.

The Cardiff academy graduate then scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser against Wrexham on the opening weekend of this league campaign.

But Barry-Murphy has urged supporters to be patient.

"He had a very serious ankle surgery last season which he made a remarkably quick recovery from," he added.

"This season has been less straightforward for him, but now he's showing signs that he's in a really good place physically.

"If we're patient with him and build him up in the way that we will then I'm sure he'll be a huge player for us moving forward."

Defender Krystian Bielik could also return at Molineux after suffering an injury in the warm-up prior to last weekend's win against Birmingham.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City have got their Championship season up and running courtesy of three straight home victories.

The next challenge for Brian Barry-Murphy's team is to deliver a first away triumph of the new campaign, and the next opportunity comes at Wolverhampton Wanderers this Saturday.

Cardiff are up to 16th in the second tier after last weekend's win over Birmingham City, which made it 12 points banked from six home league fixtures this season.

But the Bluebirds have had far less joy on the road, where there have been two draws and four defeats so far.

Cardiff's tally of two away points is the third lowest in the division – only bottom club Preston North End and 21st-placed Watford, with one apiece, have banked fewer up until now.

Barry-Murphy's men did manage an encouraging draw at leaders Middlesbrough on their most recent away day, and now comes another meeting with one of the pre-season promotion favourites.

Having been relegated from the Premier League last season, Wolves currently lie fourth having taken seven points from their past three games.

But Cesar Peixoto's team have not had it all their own way on home soil this season, where they battled to a 1-0 win over Watford last weekend.

The previous home game ended in a draw with Portsmouth, while Bolton ran out 3-1 winners at Molineux just over a fortnight ago.

Even if their opponents are well placed for a promotion push, therefore, Cardiff may travel with some belief.

We asked Cardiff City fans for their views on Saturday's 1-0 win over Birmingham City, which extended the Bluebirds' home unbeaten run in the Championship.

Brian Barry-Murphy's charges are yet to taste league defeat at the Cardiff City Stadium and have now won their last three on home soil.

Here is what some fans had to say:

Simon: Best performance I've seen this season. We were terrier-like all over the pitch and didn't allow Birmingham any time on the ball. Player mindset is key, so a combination of the team's visit to Aberfan, the very late inclusion of Salech and the atrocious weather likely all played a part.

Ken: Well done, Cardiff. You're in the groove now playing with skill. Keep this trend going and I can see an endeavour to go up the table.

Steve: Excellent, looked a class above today. All the players put the required effort in. Coming good together in the Championship.

Clark: Dominant throughout. Cardiff should have had another two goals. Birmingham offered nothing until the Damari Grey's opportunity. This performance does make you think about how they have accumulated 20 points.

Michael: Cardiff still need to take the chances they create. On another day we would have dropped two points. Still a fantastic result!

Alan: Good win, well deserved. Salech looked a bit rusty. Cian Ashford and Perry Ng had good games and nice to see a clean sheet.

Gerald: The passing and energy of all the players was exceptional. And off the ball excellent. We are developing into a formidable unit. Well done.

Jon: Excellent performance made Birmingham look ordinary. Onward and upwards. Still need to score more goals, especially with the numerous chances they create.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Brian Barry-Murphy hinted at returns for Callum Robinson and Rubin Colwill following his side's victory over Birmingham City.

Callum Robinson was again left out of the squad, the Bluebirds boss having revealed he was dropped for the game at Middlesbrough last weekend for failing to meet "squad standards".

He was again missing as Cardiff beat Blues 1-0, with Barry-Murphy saying his omission was for the same reason.

But he insisted the Republic of Ireland striker would now return to training ahead of Saturday's trip to Wolves.

Robinson could be joined in training by Wales midfielder Rubin Colwill, who is set to return to the grass after his month-long lay-off.

Asked about Robinson, Barry-Murphy said there wasn't any change to the situation and his absence was for the "already discussed" reason, adding: "He's back with us, he's training, all's good."

Barry-Murphy himself was ther subject of discplinary measures having served a one-game touchline ban, watching the win from the stands.

His yellow card at Middlesbrough last weekend meant an automatic suspension for the collection of three cautions this season.

Assistant Lee Riley lead things from the dug-out, Barry-Murphy joking: "I think Lee Riley did a great job. He's always been better than me, so I think the players were in good hands."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City striker Yousef Salech was only meant to make a cameo appearance against Birmingham City, before his game-winning turn.

Salech had not featured for the Bluebirds since injuring his shoulder in the win over Charlton Athletic five weeks ago.

He had been named on the bench to face Chris Davies' side, before a groin injury suffered by Krsytian Bielik in the warm-up prompted a late change.

Salech went on to play 90 minutes, scoring the game's only goal as well as missing a penalty.

But Brian Barry-Murphy said he was always confident in the forward, admitting he based the decision on caution against Birmingham's set-piece strength.

"It wasn't a situation that we envisaged happening," said the Cardiff City head coach.

"We threw him in but he is very strong-minded. Once I asked him the question if he was good to go, there was no hesitation.

"He was tired afterwards - he looked punch-drunk - but I think the victory will make him sleep easier tonight."

Salech responded with his third Championship goal of the campaign, with Barry-Murphy having to shuffle his selection following defender Bielik's injury,

"Krystian felt his groin at the end of the warm-up and we weren't sure he could play," he explained.

"We're already without so many centre-backs, we couldn't take another chance with Krystian.

"We didn't expect Yousef to be playing any longer than 45 minutes under any circumstances, really.

"But Birmingham are a very dangerous team with a really big set-play presence and it was important to have Yousef on the pitch for that.

"We could have played Chris Willock, but I felt as if it was important that we had a chance to defend the set-plays that we would face."