Cardiff City

Abi Cole
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Goalkeeper Nathan Trott says Cardiff City are still "100% confident" they will secure promotion despite a recent dip in form.

The Bluebirds host fellow promotion contenders Bolton Wanderers on Saturday (12:30 BST) having won only two of their past eight League One games.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side remain in the automatic promotion places, eight points ahead of Bolton, however goalkeeper Trott says belief inside the camp has not changed.

"The last few results haven't been the best but, ultimately, when you look back, we're still in a very strong position to get promoted," said Trott.

"For our standards, maybe we could be a little bit more critical on ourselves. But overall, it's been a really positive season.

"Everyone's confidence is super high, no one's worried about anything and we're all 100% confident that we can get over the line."

Cardiff were held to a 1-1 draw at Peterborough United on Monday despite dominating large parts of the game, and Trott admitted the result was frustrating.

"Being blunt, yes," he said when asked whether Cardiff should have won.

"I know how good we are, I know how good we've been all season.

"To leave with a point is a bit frustrating. But at the end of the day, going away and getting a point is not the worst situation ever."

Trott described Saturday's match against Bolton as "one of those six-point games" as Cardiff look to tighten their grip on an automatic promotion spot with six games remaining.

"I think to win at home would be really special for the fans and at this stage of the season will be a really big win," he said.

"I think that's what we're fully focused on right now."

Trott also suggested Cardiff's recent drop in results has come as opponents have changed their approach.

"Teams are a bit more comfortable with just sitting back, letting us have the ball," he said.

"It's a different challenge for us that we're going to have to get used to.

"We've been playing really good football. I think the last thing is just to put it in the net."

The goalkeeper also welcomed the return of Yousef Salech, saying the striker could be crucial during the run-in.

"He gives something different than a lot of players do in this league in general," Trott said.

"To have him back at this stage of the season where we really need him right now, it's a really good moment for us."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Goalkeeper Nathan Trott says Saturday's match against League One promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers is a "six-point" game.

The second placed Bluebirds are eight points above Bolton, who sit fourth, and seven clear of third placed Bradford City.

Cardiff have one game in hand over both teams and Trott believes a win for the Bluebirds on Saturday could have a huge bearing on their automatic promotion hopes.

Trott said: "I think it's one of those six-point games where you know they're (Bolton) behind us and I think to win at home would be really special for the fans, and at this stage of the season it will be a really big win."

Cardiff have won just two of their last eight games, but Trott believes that the club are still in a strong position to achieve promotion back to the Championship.

"Of course fans are always going to feel the emotions a lot more than the players. I think through the course of the season there has been so many ups and downs with emotions," added Trott.

"I think ultimately, when you look at the position that we're in in the season and how well we're playing, when you watch the full games and how we're playing, everyone should feel really positive of the direction that we're going in.

"One win and then the mood changes again."

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Defender Perry Ng could move from full-back to centre-back amid Cardiff City's defensive issues for Saturday's match at home to League One promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers (12:30 BST).

Regular centre-backs Calum Chambers and Dylan Lawlor are recovering from injuries, while Gabriel Osho is serving the third of a three-match ban and will miss the Bolton game.

Ng has filled in at centre-back before, most recently during the second half in the 1-1 draw at Peterborough United.

"We have options. Perry's very flexible and did a really good job there," said head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

"But throughout the course of the season, there's been many different things we have to deal with and this is just another one which would provide an opportunity for somebody else to step in."

Meanwhile, Chambers has undergone a scan after injuring his wrist against Peterborough and is awaiting results from a specialist.

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Cardiff City are facing a centre-back shortage for next weekend's League One match against promotion rivals Bolton Wanderers.

Bluebirds captain Calum Chambers was taken off at half-time during Monday's 1-1 draw at Peterborough United with a wrist injury.

Cardiff were already without Dylan Lawlor due to a toe injury sustained playing for Wales, while Gabriel Osho was serving the second game of a three-match suspension for the red card he was shown against Wycombe Wanderers last month.

The full extent of Chambers' injury is not yet known, but head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said: "He damaged that quite badly. We'll have to get that scanned and there might be an issue there.

"We're a bit stretched in that area with Dylan injured as well. Perry [Ng, usually a right-back] did a great job stepping in.

"With Gabriel Osho suspended and Dylan and Calum injured, we're quite stretched there."

Lawlor's injury is not thought to be serious, with Barry-Murphy adding: "There's no fracture but he's been in discomfort and there's a bit of swelling, so he wasn't really close [to playing] today."

Cardiff are second in League One but have won only two of their past eight matches, cutting the gap between them and the chasing pack outside the automatic promotion places from 11 points to seven.

However, they have a game in hand over Bradford City and Bolton in third and fourth place respectively, prior to Wanderers' visit to Cardiff next Saturday (12:30 BST).

Image source, Rex Features

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy insists Cardiff City are still in a "brilliant position" to win promotion from League One despite their poor recent form.

The Bluebirds are second in the table but have had their lead over the teams outside the automatic promotion positions cut from 11 to seven points.

Cardiff could only manage a 1-1 draw at Peterborough United on Monday, meaning Barry-Murphy's side have only two wins from their past eight matches.

However, they have a game in hand over Bradford City and Bolton Wanderers in third and fourth place respectively, and Cardiff host Bolton next Saturday.

"We have to accept the results recently haven't been what we've wanted but our response has been to work incredibly hard," Barry-Murphy told BBC Sport Wales.

"We're in a brilliant position. If you'd have given us this position at the start of the season, we would have been ecstatic.

"Not a lot of our players will have experienced this situation and we're trying to be as aggressive and assertive in chasing the games in what is an exciting situation."

The game at Peterborough was a familiar tale of frustration for Cardiff, who had close to 60% possession and 29 shots, including eight on target.

But as has often been the case in recent weeks, the Welsh side were unable to make their dominance count.

"We created enough chances to win the game but we didn't take them," Barry-Murphy said.

"We've been working on our attacking play to create more clear-cut chances in the wake of our recent performances where we've had domination of the ball but not enough chances.

"That element of our game was really good today and the next bit is to convert those chances."

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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."

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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."

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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.