Cardiff City are at Bristol City on Saturday, but it will be another derby game devoid of atmosphere because of the absence of fans. But what’s it like being a fan on days like these? Bluebirds supporter Millie Connolly is making do with her sofa and Cardiff City TV and still thinks there are worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon. With the Severnside derby upon us, Cardiff City fans – alongside their closest English neighbours – are longing for the days of experiencing 90 minutes in their respective footballing temples. The real deal that involves sitting with family, friends and total strangers who are bound by the collective love of their football team.

Robert Glatzel has insisted his move from Cardiff City to German club Mainz on loan will see him playing for a team that play to his strengths. The striker, who cost the Bluebirds £5.5m when he joined from Heidenheim 18 months ago, has returned to his homeland for the rest of the season. He leaves Cardiff having scored 11 goals in 58 appearances but believes Mainz can be a club that make the most of his talents.

Mick McCarthy said he was pleased with his side’s performance as his first home game as Cardiff City boss ended in a 1-1 draw with former club Millwall. Kieffer Moore second half goal – taking his season’s tally into double figures – cancelled out Millwall’s early goal thanks to a deflection from Cardiff’s Aden Flint.

Mick McCarthy is hopeful Lee Tomlin will be back to spread some magic dust for Cardiff City next month having finally stopped the rot. The Bluebirds boss is targeting the home game with Preston North End on February 20th for the return of his mercurial midfielder.

Cardiff City left-back Greg Cunningham insists he has “unfinished business” at Preston – after suspending his business operations at Cardiff City. Cunningham – who has played only 14 matches for Cardiff in two-and-a-half years – has returned to Preston on loan until the end of the season. The defender left the Lilywhites in the summer of 2018 for a reported £4million fee after he made 111 appearances in a three-year spell at Deepdale.

Mick McCarthy has told Harry Wilson he has to earn his place in Cardiff City’s side after the Wales ace was dropped to the bench in the 2-2 draw at Barnsley. Wilson did not get on the pitch as the Bluebirds fought back from two goals down to earn a point in McCarthy’s first game and end a six game losing streak.

Something will have to give at the Liberty Stadium tonight when the team with the most clean sheet in the Championship hosts the team with the least number of defeats. Last season, Swansea City were pipped by Brentford in the play-off semi-finals and they are both back among the leading candidates for promotion – Swansea in second place and the Bees two points back in fourth. Steve Cooper’s Swans will have their title credentials tested to the full over the next 10 days with both Brentford and league leaders Norwich City due to visit the Liberty Stadium. Then. they have got Manchester City in the FA Cup fifth round.

Cardiff City captain Sean Morrison says new manager Mick McCarthy can provide the lift the team needs after a season of under-achievement so far. The Bluebirds skipper has been impressed by McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor since they joined the club last week.

Mick McCarthy insists he is happy to have agreed a short-term deal to manage Cardiff City until the end of the season – but is aiming to be around a lot longer. The former Republic of Ireland boss has been installed as a quick replacement for the sacked Neil Harris.

Mick McCarthy has been parachuted in to save Cardiff City’s season, with owner Vincent Tan insisting the Irishman is the right man to stop the rot. The club feared the current slump might become a battle to avoid relegation to League One but believe McCarthy can keep them in the Championship. They are currently nine points above the relegation zone, but all the clubs in the bottom three have games in hand on Cardiff.

Mick McCarthy has been backed to “put a smile back on faces” if he is appointed as Cardiff City’s new manager. The upbeat assessment comes from Bluebirds defender Sol Bamba, himself a source of warmth, affection and humour for the club’s supporters in dark times – not least the player’s own recent cancer diagnosis. McCarthy is expected to be confirmed as Cardiff’s new boss this weekend following the sacking of Neil Harris on Thursday.

Neil Harris was sacked as Cardiff City manager this afternoon after owner Vincent Tan claimed the horror run of six straight defeats had left him with “no choice”. The Malaysian tycoon ended Harris’s 14-month spell in charge with the final straw being Wednesday night’s 1-0 home defeat by QPR. Harris guided Cardiff to last season’s Championship play-offs but his team have woefully underachieved so far this term and are 15th in the second tier.