Cardiff City

Image source, EFL

A new initiative highlighting the work of football club charities has been launched by the English Football League (EFL).

'Scan to Smile' will be rolled out in stadiums across the EFL from Friday until the end of January, with supporters invited to scan QR codes on posters displayed around grounds.

Each scan will unlock a short, uplifting story from a person whose life has been positively impacted by the support of their local club charity.

The subjects tackled include mental health support, combating loneliness, improving physical wellbeing, employability and confidence.

The EFL said it hoped the initiative would use "the reach and influence of football to offer fans a moment of positivity on matchday".

Trevor Birch, chief executive at the EFL, said: "Behind every club are people whose lives have been positively changed through the work and dedication of their local EFL club charity.

"This initiative gives supporters the chance to see that impact first-hand and reminds us that football truly is a force for good."

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

League One leaders Cardiff City host fourth-placed Stockport County on Saturday 24 January (12:30 GMT), with boss Brian Barry-Murphy keen for his side to continue on their "upward trajectory".

The Bluebirds are three points clear of second-placed Lincoln who closed the gap with Thursday's 2-1 win over Burton, though the Imps have now played a game more.

Barry-Murphy's side are 10 points above Saturday's opponents and return to the Cardiff City Stadium knowing that avoiding defeat will extend their unbeaten league run to seven matches.

Last weekend the Welsh side inflicted just a second home defeat on third-placed Bradford, central defender Gabriel Osho declaring their Valley Parade success as "a significant win".

"It's important to back up that win or else it doesn't mean as much, so we'll be looking to do that on Saturday," said Nigeria international Osho.

Despite securing victory at Bradford, Barry-Murphy was not entirely pleased with his side's second-half display.

"The second half wasn't what we wanted," said the 47-year-old Irish coach.

"We were very aggressive in the first half but in the second half we were just quite conservative and kept giving the ball back to the opponents.

"We just lost control of it. We have to be much better than that if we want to take the team where we want to go."

The head coach remains insistent his side "will improve a lot in the second half of the season" as "performance levels still aren't where we'd want them".

Stockport arrive in strong form of their own, chasing a third consecutive league win as they continue to push for promotion.

"It's going to be another tough game," said Osho.

"At home we've been so good but they're fighting for something as well. They're fourth place, on a good run of form, so everyone in the changing room is aware of that."

When the two sides met at Edgeley Park in September Cardiff snatched a 1-1 draw with a 97th minute Yousef Salech equaliser.

Barry-Murphy admits his side could have been "fortunate" to return from Stockport with a point.

"On Saturday we'll have to show that we've improved significantly to give ourselves a chance to win the game," he added.

"The real pressure is on preparation and making sure our training week is better than the last one.

"I know that if we keep improving the level of performance, then we'll really do great things.

"We have prepared exceptionally well for Saturday's game but we may not beat Stockport. We just have to do everything possible to try and do it."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Iwan Roberts reckons the appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy has reunited Cardiff City.

Some Cardiff fans protested against the club's ownership last season as the Bluebirds suffered relegation from the Championship.

But former Wales striker Roberts believes that as well as inspiring an upturn in fortunes on the pitch, the arrival of Barry-Murphy as head coach last summer has transformed the mood at Cardiff.

"There's been a lot of unrest at the club, a big divide between supporters and the people who run the club and the person who owns the club," Roberts told this week's Feast of Football podcast.

"That's sort of in the distant past now. They have made the decision to bring BBM (Barry-Murphy) in and they have got it absolutely spot on.

"He gets the club, he gets the supporters, he has united everything, he has a winning team, a winning formula, and they are doing it in a stylish way."

Cardiff are six points clear of Lincoln City having lost only one of their past 12 games.

They host fourth-placed Stockport on Saturday begore another home fixture against Barnsley next Tuesday.

Luke Hemmings
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

As Cardiff City prepare to face Stockport County on Saturday, 24 January (12:30 GMT), Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy has revealed that "different bouts of sickness" have broken out within the playing and coaching staff.

Though training has still been "very good" according to Barry-Murphy, it appears his side may be without Perry Ng for the match against fourth placed Stockport.

The defender was forced off at half-time in Cardiff's victory at Bradford last weekend with a suspected ankle issue.

"Perry has not trained this week, so at the moment he's out for the game on Saturday," said Barry-Murphy.

"But there is an expectation on my part that he could train today, so if he trains well today and tomorrow he could yet be available."

There is, however, a boost in the full-back areas - where Barry-Murphy is still "keen" to add options in the January transfer window - with the return of Ronan Kpakio.

"Ronan's back in training and has trained fully this week," reported the Irish coach.

Kpakio last featured for Cardiff in their 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient 12 days ago.

Having played 22 matches this season, and being the club's leading assister with six this campaign, his return is timely for the Bluebirds who will look to extend their six-point lead at the top on Saturday lunchtime.

The Welsh club also have "doubts" in midfield with David Turnbull not managing to train in the last two days.

The attacking midfielder has found form in recent weeks and set Cardiff on their way with a "typical Turnbull" goal last time out against Bradford.

"I think he's going to be missing," said Barry-Murphy who also expects to be without defensive midfielder Ryan Wintle who has not trained since the last match because of a neck injury.

Wintle has become something of a fixture for Barry-Murphy's side having played every minute for the Bluebirds since 26 December.

"He's been a huge player for us," Barry-Murphy said of the 28-year old Englishman.

"In that congested fixture period around Christmas he was very important for us because he was able to repeat performances so quickly and play so well."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

League One leaders Cardiff City extended their advantage at the top to six points after victory over third placed Bradford City at Valley Parade on Saturday.

The Bluebirds were ruthless in a clinical first half, racing into a two goal lead inside 25 minutes, a start that delighted manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

"I'm really pleased with the performance, and for the supporters to get the victory in such an exciting manner is incredible," he said.

Barry Murphy was particularly impressed with Cardiff's opening goal having spoken in recent weeks about wanting to see more shots centrally from his team.

"We've scored a lot of goals from wide areas this season where we've had to cross it," he said.

"But to arrive in that central area was good for us, and the finish from David was typical Turnbull."

Cardiff were forced to show a different side of their game after Bradford pulled one back early in the second half. The response impressed their manager just as much as the attacking display.

"We had to weather the storm and defend the box for our lives," he said.

"Putting bodies on the line is part of what playing for Cardiff should be about.

"To win the game is important for us. It felt as if we played the game really well and deserved to win."

The Bluebirds will now look to extend their unbeaten run in League One to seven matches when they host fellow promotion contenders Stockport County at Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday 24 January (12:30 GMT).

Ioan Griffiths

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City will be looking to extend their lead at the top of League One when they travel to third-placed Bradford City on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

The Bluebirds head to Valley Parade after a hard-earned 1-1 draw away at Leyton Orient last weekend stretched their unbeaten run to five games.

Brian Barry-Murphy's team will aim to avenge September's reverse fixture against Bradford, when Cardiff were swept aside by the Bantams in a 3-1 defeat.

"The home game against Bradford, we were doing really well and the stadium was full, everyone was coming expecting to see a great win," Barry-Murphy said.

"They blew us away and we weren't able to compete with them in that game on that occasion. Now we have to go and show that we're better than we were back then, which we believe we are."

Bradford are six points behind Cardiff with a game in hand and are unbeaten in their past four home matches.

Cardiff will attempt to become only the second visiting side to take three points at Valley Parade this season.

"We need to be confident we can play our best and prove we're good enough to beat anyone," Barry-Murphy added.

"We're constantly evaluating how much we're improving. This has to be tested every week and this is the way to do it."

Image source, EFL

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has been named the League One manager of the month for December.

The table-topping Bluebirds won five of their six league fixtures during the month, collecting 15 points from a possible 18.

"There was a lot of sacrifice during the month of December," said 47-year-old Barry-Murphy.

"We asked a lot because of how important it was with so many games. The lads put in some incredible performances in a condensed period.

"I have a real gratitude for everyone who made it possible for us to have such a positive month."

The former Manchester City academy coach was recruited from Leicester City last summer, following Cardiff's relegation from the Championship.

The other nominees for the December award were Ian Evatt (Blackpool), Michael Skubala (Lincoln City) and former Swansea City boss Luke Williams (Peterborough United).

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Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy says midfielder Joel Colwill is "in my face every single day" on the training pitch to show his "hunger" to play for Cardiff City.

Colwill has had a breakthrough season at his boyhood club, with his form for the League One leaders seeing him land a first Wales cap.

He has started 12 league games and come off the bench on 10 further occasions but his most recent league start came in the win at Stevenage in early December,

Colwill, 21, also started the defeat against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup in mid-December, but his league appearances have been limited recently.

Alex Robertson and Ryan Wintle have occupied Cardiff's central midfield positions over the Christmas period and into the new year, while Omari Kellyman's continued improvement has earned him league starts in the number 10 position.

Kellyman is an injury doubt for Saturday's trip to Bradford City after a groin injury forced him off the field in last weekend's 1-1 draw at Leyton Orient.

"He hasn't had the minutes in recent weeks that he would have wanted or that I would have wanted to give him based on how well he's done," said Barry-Murphy of Colwill.

"I just think over the course of the season he's going to be a huge player for us and he's going to have a huge impact.

"If you look back to pre-season he probably wouldn't have expected to play all the games he did at the start of the season and then once he's done that he wants more."

Colwill made his Cardiff debut back in 2023 but spent last season on loan at Cheltenham and then Exeter.

He has established himself at the Cardiff City Stadium this term, making 27 appearances in all competitions so far.

"I just ask him to understand in this moment that as long as he keeps doing what he's doing, his turn will come and then he's going to have a huge part to play in what would be a great season for him," Barry-Murphy added.

"But he's impatient, you know, which is part of who he is."

Image source, Getty Images

Kion Etete has returned to Cardiff City after his season-long loan at Rotherham United was cut short.

The 24-year-old made 14 appearances for the Millers but failed to register a goal or an assist.

The 6ft 6in striker signed for Cardiff in 2022 and has nine goals in 63 appearances for the Bluebirds.

Having coming through the youth team at Notts County, Etete signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 2019 before joining Cardiff three years later.