By Gareth James
Erol Bulut put points above performance as he assessed a vital win for Cardiff City that keeps them on the edge of the Championship play-offs.
The Bluebirds manager saw his team overcome Millwall 1-0 in the capital in a match that will not live long in the memory.
But the victory came after back-to-back defeats and was enough to leave Cardiff only outside the top six positions on goal difference.
“It was not the best game, but we knew they would be aggressive,” said Bulut.
“We have to manage games like this better. We didn’t play how I wanted in the first half, but we were more compact in the second.
“We’re having periods in games where we are playing well but that is not enough.
“But today whoever scored the first goal was going to win the game.
“We’ve scored many goals from set-pieces, it is a weapon for us in games and we will use it.”
Watch extended highlights from yesterday’s victory! 📺
Available now on @CardiffCityTV ⬇️#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) December 10, 2023
Bulut’s team have won four out of their last eight matches, but remain inconsistent with three defeats and a draw in the same spell.
They rarely looked like losing to the toothless Lions and now have matches against out-of-form Birmingham City and Hull to try and gain some momentum before the busy Christmas period.
“The results from the (top six) opponents, you understand how important it was to take three points,” Bulut said.
“This is a period where we have to take as many points as possible because every three days we play a game.
“If you see how close the table is, with one or two wins you are in the play-offs.
“But with two losses, you can change your position from sixth to 14th.
“We want to stay around the play-offs and we will do everything for that.”
A late header by centre-back Dimitrios Goutas proved the difference in a dire encounter against struggling Millwall.
Dimitrios Goutas has been extremely impressive for Cardiff City this season, a commanding defender and he’s headed the Bluebirds ahead against Millwall from a corner. Has slotted perfectly into the way that they play and is a leader in the back four.
— Josh Bunting (@Buntingfootball) December 9, 2023
Greece international Goutas pounced direct from a corner in the 78th minute to seal three points the Bluebirds scarcely deserved.
A match dreadfully low on quality looked destined to end goalless, before a brief spell of pressure in the closing stages swung it in the Bluebirds’ favour.
It was a grim afternoon for Millwall who now have just one win in their last 10 league games and are sinking into a Championship relegation battle under boss Joe Edwards, who replaced the sacked Gary Rowett in October.
Neither side went into the game with any momentum, the hosts having lost their previous two matches against Southampton and West Brom, and Millwall with one win in their last nine.
The first half typified their respective struggles. It was desperately low on quality and meaningful attacking play at either end.
A strong swirling wind did not help the fluency, but poor passing and aimless defensive clearances characterised some frustrating fare.
Millwall had the better of the territory and possession in the opening 45 minutes, yet Bluebirds goalkeeper Alex Runarsson was not tested at all.
Josh Bowler, operating on the right of the Cardiff midfield, produced some promising moments for the home side that fizzled out before seriously troubling defenders.
An ugly watch but a gutsy performance and important 3 points. Erol Bulut praised the substitutes’ impact and I agree with him. Though Rubin, Meite, Etete and Ralls were all very good off the bench.
Much-needed win 🙌🏼 https://t.co/0EXfI6MX0D
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) December 9, 2023
There were 42 minutes on the clock when Millwall midfielder Ryan Leonard produced the first shot of the game – which posed more of a threat to the corner flag than the back of the Cardiff net.
It marked the start of a mini-purple patch for the visitors just before the interval and striker Kevin Nisbet should have done better when a low Leonard cross found him in space eight yards out.
Millwall began the second half with more urgency and the pace of Brooke Norton-Cuffy on the right flank gave Cardiff some uncomfortable moments.
Bluebirds boss Erol Bulut had brought on striker Yaku Meite and Wales midfielder Rubin Colwill at the break but his attempt to shake up his lethargic side looked to be floundering.
Millwall built pressure up the hour mark and when Nisbet flashed a direct free-kick just wide in the 56th minute, there was a sense a Lions breakthrough might be imminent.
Instead it was Cardiff who fashioned the first gilt-edged chance of the game.
It fell to Meite 15 yards out after Colwill squared, but the Ivory Coast international’s effort lacked conviction and was straight at the body of Matija Sarkic in the Millwall goal.
Joe Edwards insists he has ‘every belief’ his side can pull away from the relegation places with teams beneath the Lions continuing to pick up points #Millwallhttps://t.co/JJa2kYbfg6 pic.twitter.com/NU2JAkX0yn
— NewsAtDen (@NewsAtDen) December 10, 2023
Cardiff began to show some long overdue urgency going into the final 20 minutes and finally broke the deadlock through the head of Goutas.
His effort found the net via the hand of Sarkic and was not a goal for the purists but it proved enough to earn maximum points for the hosts.
Millwall manager Edwards said: “In recent weeks it feels like teams at the bottom have done nothing but pick up points and we haven’t picked up enough.
“People will point out where we are in the league and that we are playing Leicester away in midweek, but at some point I think we will put a run together.
“But we can’t just talk about it, we just have to get some points on the board.
“It feels like we’re a group that lacks belief – it’s my job to snap us out of it.”
