Mick McCarthy is happy to do “whatever it takes” to win promotion with Cardiff City, according to midfielder Will Vaulks. The Bluebirds can break into the top six if they extend their winning streak to six matches at Bournemouth on Wednesday night – a scenario that looked implausible when the manager took charge barely a month ago. At that stage, Cardiff were 15th in table, but Wales midfielder Vaulks says a combination of pragmatism, sound man-management and celebrating the virtues other teams find “horrible” has transformed the club’s season.

Mick McCarthy has declared his first month in charge of Cardiff City as the best fresh start he has ever enjoyed in his career. The Bluebirds boss remains unbeaten after seeing his side thrash Preston 4-0 at home to move within three points of the Championship play-off places. It was McCarthy’s fifth successive win and another away victory at Bournemouth next Wednesday could see them replace the managerless Cherries in the top six.

Mick McCarthy has won praise from Preston manager Alex Neil for being true to his principles at Cardiff City. McCarthy remains unbeaten since he took charge of the Bluebirds and will be looking for his fifth straight victory when Preston visit on Saturday afternoon. The former Republic of Ireland boss has earned two draws, followed by four victories which have lifted his side from 15th in the table to seventh.

Mick McCarthy has promised to kick butts if his Cardiff City players get carried away after continuing their revival under him with a 2-0 victory at Luton Town. Harry Wilson and Will Vaulks netted with stunning strikes in a four minute spell in the second-half to move City within three points of the Sky Bet Championship play-off spots.

Josh Murphy says Mick McCarthy has put a smile back on the winger’s face and also revitalised Cardiff City.  Murphy had become a bit-part figure under former boss Neil Harris and was linked with a loan move away from the Welsh capital in the January transfer window. But since the experienced McCarthy succeeded Harris, both Cardiff and Murphy look completely different with the former Norwich City – who cost the Bluebirds a hefty £11m in 2018 – appearing in four of McCarthy’s unbeaten matches.

Kieffer Moore has been labelled as “horrible” for opponents to deal with by his Cardiff City clubmate Perry Ng, who is grateful the striker is on his side. Moore is the man spearheading the Bluebirds’ climb back up the Championship table with five goals in as many games, to give him 13 in 25 league matches this season. But it is the Wales forward’s overall contribution as much as his goals that have impressed Ng since the full-back joined from Crewe in the last transfer window.

Mick McCarthy is refusing to get carried away after seeing Cardiff City move up to seventh in the Championship after an impressive 3-1 at home against Coventry City. The Bluebirds made it three wins on the trot thanks to goals from the impressive Josh Murphy and a brace from in-form striker Kieffer Moore.

Mick McCarthy is delighted with the reaction his squad has had since becoming Cardiff City manager. The Bluebirds boss has seen his side pick up eight points from his first four games in charge including back-to-back wins at Bristol City and Rotherham in the last two matches.

Mick McCarthy hailed Cardiff City’s fighting spirit insisting they can start looking up the table after a 2-1 victory at Rotherham United maintained their unbeaten record under him. Joe Bennett’s late winner after Sheyi Ojo’s opener had been cancelled out made it back-to-back away wins for the Bluebirds.

Will Vaulks insists the mood has brightened at Cardiff City since Mick McCarthy replaced Neil Harris as manager. The Wales midfielder believes McCarthy’s man-management skills have improved the prevailing mood within the dressing room and provided the foundation for a recovery in form which has brought five points from three unbeaten matches. Vaulks – who helped the Bluebirds to a comfortable 2-0 win at Bristol City at the weekend – has also been impressed by McCarthy’s tactical flexibility.

Mick McCarthy admitted he was baffled over a mystery illness to Alex Smithies as he marked his first win at Cardiff City boss with a 2-0 victory at Bristol City. The Bluebirds keeper was stretchered off just nine minuets into the Severnside derby having called for medical attention after slumping down beside his port.

Mick McCarthy insists Cardiff City are not in a relegation scrap – but knows he has a big week ahead to avoid being dragged into one. The Bluebirds travel to Bristol City on Saturday looking for their first win under their new boss after successive draws with Barnsley and Millwall.