Nat Phillips Is So Good He Improves Other Players, Says Cardiff City Boss Erol Bulut
Nat Phillips has been praised by Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut as the rock on which the Bluebirds have built firmer foundations.
Phillips was at the centre of Cardiff’s defensive effort as they won the Severnside derby 1-0 away at Bristol City.
The Liverpool loanee has made seven appearances for Cardiff since he moved from Celtic and in the last three of those matches his team have only conceded one goal.
That compares with eight goals conceded in the previous three matches.
Bulut said: “Nat is a big add to us, he gives confidence in the defence and organises the defence. Other players next to him are acting on it and that’s important.
“He has played for Liverpool and Celtic, big teams, and he knows when you get pressure how to stay calm.
“He gives this to the other players too and with (goalkeeper) Ethan (Horvath) there now we can also play better from the back.”
The win at Ashton Gate means Cardiff have done the double over Bristol City this season, following a 2-0 home victory over the Robins back in October.
Back-to-back Championship wins for the first time since October means Cardiff remain nine points clear of the relegation zone – a margin that would have been trimmed without their upturn since the clubs at the bottom have started to pick up points.
Cardiff are also nine points adrift of the play-offs.
Bulut added: “We started good and we finished good. A goal from a set-piece again – I know we are one of the best teams from a set-piece.
“It was a game where whoever scored the first goal would win.
“We had some really bad moments [this season]. We had lost many games in a row. But we never stopped staying together.
“Together we can make great things, as we saw today and in the last game. I think we will push for many more wins.”
Perry Ng’s 66th-minute header gave Cardiff back-to-back victories after going four without a win and took them above Bristol City in the Championship table.
Cardiff lived up to the title of Championship set-piece kings by scoring a league-leading 17th goal from such a situation this season.
