Cardiff have opened up a four-point lead over the play-off places at the top of League One after a 3–2 win over Huddersfield Town and could extend that gap further when they go to third-placed Stevenage on Tuesday night.
Salech’s brace, both headers, took him to nine league goals and 10 in all competitions this season, continuing an impressive rise that began when he arrived from Swedish club Sirius less than a year ago.
His double helped Cardiff re-establish control late on after Isaak Davies’ 86th-minute strike appeared to seal the game, only for Joe Taylor to set up a tense finish.
The win keeps Barry-Murphy’s side firmly at the summit — and crucially gives them breathing space which could now grow after Tuesday night’s trip.
Salech is spearheading their challenge but head coach Barry-Murphy reckons the 23-year-old Danish striker is only scratching the surface of his potential.
"I think he just has to concentrate on trying to improve all aspects of his game," said Barry-Murphy.
"You've seen how dangerous he is, but obviously he's still a very young striker.
“He'll be learning a lot from Callum Robinson and how to improve the aspects of his game that Callum is really good at and he's not, and vice versa.
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"So he's got a lot of improvement to go and he's a really good lad, and as long as he has the mentality to improve he'll be fine."
Salech’s blend of size and movement has quickly made him the focal point of Cardiff’s attack.
The 6ft 5in forward hit nine goals in the second half of last season despite the club’s relegation, and he has carried that form seamlessly into the new campaign.
"Naturally he's very dangerous in the box and our players are really aware of where he moves so we can find him with good crosses," Barry-Murphy added.
"His defensive work for the team was very good. Naturally it can be better, and the demands we want in terms of how he has to press the ball really quickly and really aggressively to make sure he forms the first line of our defence is so important.
"He can improve that a lot as the season progresses. He's a good lad and so much improvement to come is probably the most exciting thing."
Cardiff’s display was far from flawless, though their manager felt the response to Huddersfield’s equaliser was telling.
“I thought we controlled the game for large spells, created really good chances, and I was really pleased at the end with that reaction to the second goal to see out the game in such a comfortable fashion which means it’s a great day for us all,” he said.
“The only part of the game I felt we were below our best was in that period where they scored, we gave the ball away quite a lot.
“It wasn’t easy, the conditions were difficult and the pitch wasn’t like it has been previously. It was quite difficult for the players to play the normal way and they scored and had momentum in the game.
“But I think we wrestled it back by having the ball for good periods again, finding our creative players and forward areas and scored some brilliant goals.”
Huddersfield manager Lee Grant was left rueing his side’s early caution.
“It’s the game we prepared for and they gave us the game we expected, the frustrating thing from my perspective is we didn’t do better in the big moments,” he said.
“I feel as though the goals we conceded are really poor and that is the difference in the game, we have to be better with our individual defending.
“From front to back, I felt like in the first 10 to 15 minutes, we were too passive and allowed them too much of a foothold in the game and I really didn’t enjoy the level of respect we showed them and how far off we were.”
Cardiff, though, leave the weekend not only with three points but with growing separation from the chasing pack — and with their most potent weapon still developing.
