By Gareth James
Erol Bulut insists Cardiff City can do what no Championship club has done since the start of November – beat leaders Leicester City.
The Bluebirds host the high-flying Foxes on Friday night, desperate for three points to re-energise their push to be among the play-off places.
But Leicester present the toughest opposition possible as the league leaders are six points clear of Ipswich Town at the top and haven’t lost in eight matches since they were beaten by Middlesbrough.
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Bulut’s side fell to a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Ling Power Stadium back in August and Bulut says: “We will give everything to get points against Leicester, but you have to see what you have in your hand and what the opponent has in theirs.
“When you compare, we have to ask if it is possible.
“I think, when we are well-concentrated, when you see the game at Leicester, how we played there, we could have won there.
“We lost the game in the 92nd minute. Before that, we had two or three chances to lead. We couldn’t manage to score and they did, so it could have been different.”
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Even though they are 11th in the table at present, a victory for Cardiff could potentially lift them back into the top six, if other results go in their favour.
But whatever the outcome against the strongest squad in the division, Bulut is clear he need to strengthen his own resources in the January transfer window.
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Cardiff have been unable to sign players for fees since 2022 because of a transfer ban that has now been lifted and Bulut says he has made his requirement known to chairman Mehmet Dalman and owner Vincent Tan.
“I think our owner Vincent Tan knows from our chairman (Mehmet Dalman) what we have to do, because I had talks with our chairman,” Bulut said.
“These are only good things for Cardiff City. I am asking for players [who can help] push a little bit more, or stay in the level we are in right now.
“We are only two points away from the play-offs. I said always we want to be around there,” Bulut added.
“But the second part of the season will be more difficult in my opinion, so we have to do something.
“The last four or five games, we have seen we need to add players. We have to add some players to push for a little bit more.
“If we can do something it will be great; if not, I have to manage with the team until the end of the season.
“But he [Tan] understood that we have to do something on the market and I hope he can help us with this.”
Cesare Casadei's winner, last time out against Cardiff City ⚽ pic.twitter.com/UfSzyzsE4k
— Leicester City (@LCFC) December 28, 2023
