Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut was delighted as his team claimed an impressive win at the death against third-placed Ipswich Town at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The game was seemingly heading for a 0-0 bore draw when ex-Bluebirds striker Kieffer Moore scored for the Tractor Boys in the 79th minute, firing past Ethan Horvath in goal who didn’t stand a chance.
The real drama came after the referee added eight minutes stoppage time on at the end. This sparked the Welsh side into action. with Vaclav Hladky in the Town goal was booked for time wasting.
Ryan Wintle then fired in the equaliser in the 95th minute to seemingly claim a draw for his side. Callum O’Dowda then stepped up to fire in the winner in the 100th minute as a scrambled cross fell to his feet.
The Bluebirds have been in impressive form recently, winning their last four matches. This includes victories against Huddersfield Town, Stoke City and Bristol City. The Welsh side sit in 10th position in the Championship , just five points off sixth-placed Norwich City and the play-offs.
Speaking to Wales Online, the ex-Fenerbahce man hailed his side:
“Maybe was the best today. We have been really prepared. We had one day less recovery, but when we started the game I never felt we were going to lose it. From the first minute until the end, we could lead, we had chances. All the players were concentrated.
“When you play well and concede, it’s not good, but how my players started, they finished the game. Life is like this, you have to believe something. We believed today we were going to win this game and we did it. Subs came in with a lucky hand today.”
Bulut was delighted to see O’Dowda had popped up to net the winner: “I am really glad for him.
“Four months, an injury, he came back and then he got injured again and has to prepare. His quality, we were never thinking negatively. He is really pushing hard until the end. I am really glad that he scored the second, winning goal.
“If you have quality around you, you have quality, really good players, football is like this with top teams.
“I have already shook his hand,” Bulut said of Moore. “It was a good goal – but it was not enough today!”
Up next for Bulut’s side is a South Wales derby as they travel to Luke Williams’ Swansea City next Saturday.
Writer’s View
It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Bluebirds make the play-offs, despite manager Bulut playing it down during the week. No disrespect to the other three teams they’ve beaten but yesterday’s win is much more impressive and Cardiff have hit form at just the right time.
Four wins on the spin and beating third-placed Ipswich is brilliant for their chances of making the top six, but Tractor Boys gaffer Kieran McKenna may bemoan the extra added-on timeHowever, it is a minimum of eight minutes, not a definitive.
