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Callum Robinson is Unhappy . . . But Still Keeps Winning Matches for Cardiff City

Callum Robinson of Cardiff City. Pic. Alamy

Callum Robinson of Cardiff City. Pic. Alamy

Brian Barry-Murphy has hailed Callum Robinson’s composure and professionalism after he kept Cardiff City flying high at the top of League One.

Substitute Robinson struck late to give Cardiff a 1-0 victory at Stevenage, a result that keeps the Bluebirds four points clear at the top and underlines the manager’s belief in his entire squad.

Robinson’s decisive contribution, arriving just five minutes after he came on, not only secured a hard-earned away win but reinforced Barry-Murphy’s message that his team’s success will depend on every member of the group staying engaged and ready.

The 30-year-old forward has not played as many minutes as he would have hoped this season, but he produced the game’s defining moment when he controlled a loose ball and guided a half-volley into the bottom corner from 20 yards. 

It was his first goal in more than two months and his sixth of the campaign.

"It's never easy when you want to play more than you have done – I have experienced that feeling myself," the Cardiff boss said.

"It's probably the hardest part of being a head coach [leaving players out].

"[But] you are trying to emphasise the value of all our squad because we have had such an impact from the bench in so many games, and also to look at the big picture of what we can achieve together if we all believe in what we are doing. This is a fitting example of that."

READ MORE: Cardiff City’s Brian Barry-Murphy is a Good Watcher . . . Especially of Others

Cardiff had looked the side most likely to take the points throughout a cagey contest at the Lamex Stadium. 

They controlled much of the tempo and created the better opportunities without quite finding the breakthrough. 

Yousef Salech headed wide in the first half from a good position, while Joel Colwill struck the crossbar shortly after the interval as the visitors continued to probe.

Stevenage, who had not yet lost a league match at home this season, defended with discipline but rarely threatened to wrestle control.

As the game entered the closing stages, it felt increasingly like Cardiff’s pressure might go unrewarded.

READ MORE: Yousef Salech can Learn From Callum Robinson . . . and Teach Him, too, Says Cardiff City Boss

Then Robinson stepped up.

His finish, struck cleanly across the goalkeeper, carried an air of certainty that Barry-Murphy later said felt inevitable.

"Callum hasn't played the minutes he would have wanted to play so far this season – I haven't been able to give him enough of them," the manager admitted.

"But when the ball fell to him in that area of the pitch, it was so clear he was going to find the right finish at the right moment. His quality is undoubted."

Barry-Murphy has repeatedly stressed that Cardiff’s strong start in League One has been underpinned by contributions from players outside the regular starting XI. 

Once again, he pointed to the influence of the bench, which has produced several crucial goals already this season.

"I think with the players we had coming on to the pitch [from the bench] we had a really good fresh impetus," he said.

"I always felt if we could get a chance or two and it might happen to fall to Callum or Yousef… that's the way it was in the end.

"We've had such an impact from the bench, so many times in so many games."

READ MORE: Cardiff City to Claim £100m from Nantes on Monday Over Emiliano Sala

Barry-Murphy also highlighted the significance of earning a clean sheet against a Stevenage side known for their physical approach and threat in the penalty area.

"The clean sheet is huge. To keep a team who are so dangerous in the opponents' box to so few opportunities was really big for the players," he said.

Cardiff’s fourth consecutive league win was another strong response to the wobble they suffered earlier in the season, when back-to-back defeats at Bolton and Blackpool raised doubts about whether their quick start could be sustained. 

"We are fully aware of how topsy-turvy the season can be. It is only a short period since we were 3-0 behind at Blackpool and looking at chance after chance, and [the defeat at] Bolton," added Barry-Murphy.

"We are fuelled by that to fire us forward and keep wanting to improve."

Stevenage manager Alex Revell said: "We are so disappointed that we've lost the game because one thing I'll say is, these are a good side.

"The quality they bring on to win a game… you can see the quality throughout the squad.
"We worked so hard – the effort the players put in to work as a group, to protect, I can never fault. Absolutely we need to do more going forward, there's no doubt about it.

"But first and foremost we work as a team and with the players who were out there, I can't fault their effort at all."

 

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