Erol Bulut once again needs the lift that only a derby can provide
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!
Erol 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.
