By Paul Jones
Mark Hudson insists Cardiff City’s minds are on their midweek trip to Queens Park Rangers, rather than the looming derby at Swansea City.
Hudson suffered his first defeat in caretaker charge of the Bluebirds at the weekend – a 1-0 home defeat to bottom-placed club Coventry City.
It leaves Cardiff back in 18th position, five points above the relegation zone but still only four adrift of the play-off places in a congested mid-table.
The Swans suffered a humbling 4-0 defeat away to leaders Burnley, which brough their four-game winning streak to an abrupt end but Hudson says Sunday’s derby will be put on the backburner until after Wednesday’s visit to QPR.
“We will focus on QPR first and then think about Swansea,” said Hudson who had previously taken seven points from his first three matches in charge.
“We now have to look to go and win those games and that’s what we will do.”
Hudson was unhappy that the officials had ruled out what appeared to be a legitimate equaliser from Callum Robinson against Coventry.
Mark Hudson on Cardiff’s disallowed goal: “I’ve watched it back over and over again.
“I’ve spoken to Bobby [Madley]. He says he gave offside because of a defender not being in control of the ball but the main point is he [Robinson] is not offside at any point in the move.”
— Dafydd Pritchard (@DafPritchard) October 15, 2022
But he has also stressed that the decision could not gloss over a below par display from his side.
“It’s disappointing, but overall we didn’t work hard their keeper enough, so it’s not an excuse. We weren’t quite at it,” he said.
“We started the second half really well and scored a goal that was disallowed. That’s the moment where you get yourself back in the game but it’s taken away from you.
“I am still trying to work it out. I have watched it back again and again. He’s onside but they have given it offside because of a rule that the defender isn’t in control of the ball.
“But my argument is that Robbo has done what all good strikers do and has got himself onside. We will have to agree to disagree.
“Apparently, even if the defender mis-controls the ball it doesn’t count as being in possession. It’s something that has changed this season. I don’t understand it.
“The referees don’t understand it and it’s not good for the game. You’ll have to ask the hierarchy.
We’ve got the big swede on our side #pusb
— Matt Partridge (@partridge1971) October 16, 2022
Josh Eccles has urged Coventry to make sure Viktor Gyokeres stays in Sky Blue for the rest of the season.
Gyokeres – who scored 19 goals last season – struck to earn the Championship’s basement dwellers their first away victory since April.
The Swedish striker was unaffected by missing an open goal before showing the single-mindedness that has made him a target for a number of Coventry’s Championship rivals.
His first-half strike was his fourth of the campaign for a struggling team and impressive young midfielder Eccles insisted: “Everyone knows how good Vik is.
“To keep hold of him for this season would mean a lot to us. We all know how strong he is and what a good goalscorer he is. To have him is amazing.
“When he missed that early chance, it was a shock to all the players on the pitch. I thought he was going to ripple the net. But he turns negatives into positives.
What we thinking this week,2 tough games
Hopefully 2 wins but id take draw or loss at qpr as long as beat swansea,2 draws wouldnt be end of world but 2 losses would be a disaster for us and for hudson chances of getting job permanent #CardiffCity— Bluebirdsgossip(new) (@Bluebirdgossip1) October 17, 2022
“He stays focussed and it was early in the game, so we knew he would get another opportunity.”
Gyokeres failed to make the grade at Brighton and underwhelmed in a loan spell at Swansea City, but at Coventry the 24-year-old has thrived.
Manager Mark Robins will now hope his Nordic goal king can rule over six home matches in the club’s next eight games, following pitch problems earlier in the season that forced them on the road for six of their first seven matches.
Coventry remain bottom and four points from safety, but have two or even three games in hand on the clubs above them.
Eccles added: “We take the home games as an advantage as we didn’t have them at the start of the season. The fans were amazing today and gave us a boost. They are even louder at home.”
