By Gareth James
Cardiff City are far from sorry they ended up signing Sory Kaba.
They may, however, be sorry they didn’t get Sory sooner.
A third goal in eight games from Guinean striker Kaba in the 1-1 midweek win over play-off chasing West Brom, salvaged another vital point and left the Bluebirds four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.
Callum Robinson is the top scorer for Cardiff in the League this season with a meagre five goals, and new boss Sabri Lamouchi has challenged the 27-year-old Kaba to overtake him.
“Three more goals and he will be our top scorer and the challenge for Sory is to overtake Callum. That’s the target I’ve set him,” said Lamouchi.
“He’s scored important goals for us and is helping us to get points. It’s simple – clean sheets, goals, points and wins means we save the club.”
Manager Sabri Lamouchi has challenged striker Sory Kaba to become Cardiff City's top goalscorer this season ⚽#BBCFootball
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) March 17, 2023
With Robinson still on the sidelines with a hamstring injury until at least the end of the international break, Kaba’s goals are becoming more and more important for a team that has the worst goal scoring record in the Championship. with a mere 28 in 37 games, or 46 fewer than top of the table Burnley!
Kaba came off the bench for the second half in midweek and head home the equaliser to end an alarming trend for Lamouchi, who had seen his side lose in five of his previous eight games in charge after conceding the first goal.
“When you have the worst attack in the league it isn’t just about the strikers, it’s about strategy, the system and the manager,” added Lamouchi.
Sabri Lamouchi sets Cardiff City's 'locker room DJ' ambitious target before end of the season #CCFC #Bluebirds https://t.co/YfJd2pLcxY
— Cardiff City Online (@CardiffCityLive) March 17, 2023
The third manager of the season after Steve Morison and Mark Hudson, Lamouchi has seen his strikers add seven goals in his nine games and wants more to complete his mission of keeping the Bluebirds in the Championship.
Between them, the six front runners used over the course of the season have hit the target a mere 12 times.
What Lamouchi wants to see is Kaba continuing his good run at Rotherham on Saturday in a key game in their battle for survival.
Cardiff are four points clear of the bottom three and The Millers are one point and one place ahead of them in 20th.
“It isn’t a big game, it is just another important game like the eight others we’ll have to go after this weekend,” said Lamouchi.
“The draw against West Brom was like a victory for me because of injuries, a different system and the fact they are a strong team bidding for the play-offs. I was very happy with the result and the performance.
“In the Championship you must never give up and keep fighting to the end. That’s what we have to do to keep Championship football at this club.”
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