Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Thursday, February 24.
Corberan: Win was like Man Utd Champions League final
Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan has likened the Terriers' win over Cardiff to Manchester United's famous Champions League win over Bayern Munich in 1999.
In Barcelona 23 years ago, it was Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, once of this parish, who were the heroes for Sir Alex Ferguson's men. On Wednesday night, it was Josh Koroma and Jon Russell with the late heroics.
While, of course, there was less on the line, Corberan praised his players' mentality to fight for the victory until the death.
“I remember Bayern Munich were winning the game,” he said. “And Manchester United scored two goals from set-pieces in extra-time and won the Champions League.
“This of course is not the Champions League but one of the skills you need to have as a player is the skill to not give up.
“So, I am pleased because the players fought to the end.
“That is one skill in football if you don’t have it is difficult to compete. Every player needs to have that mentality.
“It was more about that desire than the tactical side, but the players appreciated the situation.”
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Pundit's verdict on 'aggressive' Hugill and 'disappointing' defending
Former Cardiff City player turned pundit Jobi McAnuff has had his say on the Jordan Hugill-Tom Lees flashpoint, while also claiming that Cardiff will be "disappointed" by their defending late on against the Terriers.
Steve Morison said the game changed following the touchline fracas which ensued following Hugill's challenge on Lees, which left the Huddersfield man covered in blood on the floor.
It prompted rage from the home dugout, while it gave the fans a timely lift, too, and the Terriers used that to their advantage in the final few minutes.
And McAnuff has given his view on that as well as Cardiff's soft defending for the two goals, which came by virtue of two balls lumped into the box.
"I didn't think it was a red," McAnuff said on Quest's EFL highlights show.
"The way Jordan Hugill plays, he is very robust, he does go into challenges fairly aggressively.
"I don't think there was any intent to hurt Tom Lees.
"They certainly used it, though, to get themselves going. This was at 1-0 down.
"Sorba Thomas was instrumental, really. We have seen it so many times this season.
"It will disappointing from Cardiff's point of view, how they dealt with those balls in, but Jon Russell scored his first goal. Brilliant for him to get that first goal."
Murphy: There's light at the end of the tunnel
Josh Murphy has opened up on his difficult spell on the treatment table up at Preston North End.
The Cardiff City loanee has been out for months owing to an ankle ligament injury but is finally back training fully and hopes to be in contention for selection soon.
“It’s been tough, because it’s ended up being so long,” Murphy said. “I think this is the start of my 17th week being injured, so it has definitely been tough physically and mentally, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel which is great.
“I’m out on the grass now, back with the boys, so it’s now about building that fitness and being able to be ready for the matchdays and to hopefully be in the manager’s thoughts.”
Murphy went to Deepdale largely because he knew then manager Frankie McAvoy. However, Ryan Lowe has since taken over and he hopes to impress his new manager and get straight back into action as soon as possible.
“When a new manager comes in you want to impress him straight away and you can’t do that from the gym or the treatment room, so that has been disappointing, but it’s something I’ve been looking forward to," he added.
“You can see how the boys have been playing. He’s kind of galvanised us and we’re playing a lot more attacking football.
“Everyone’s playing with a lot more freedom and I think I can thrive off that, so I’m really looking forward to working with him and Marshy [Mike Marsh], and hopefully I can get into his thoughts sooner rather than later.
“I’ve had a couple of good chats with him about the way he wants to use me, and it’s really promising for me.
“He wants to play attacking football, which obviously I want to do, so I think it could be a really good fit. I’m just so excited to show what I can do.”
Tomlin close to joining Walsall
Lee Tomlin is closing in on a return to football with League Two outfit Walsall keen on his signature.
The former Bluebirds playmaker was released by Cardiff back in October after his contract was terminated by mutual consent following a string of injuries and agonising setbacks.
The 33-year-old trained for a few days with non-League Wrexham at the start of February, however a deal could not be struck for the player to sign there permanently.
Now, though, ex-Newport County boss Michael Flynn is lining up a move for free agent Tomlin.
The Welshman was appointed as Saddlers boss this month after leaving Newport earlier this season and is looking to bolster his squad for the back end of the campaign.
And he sees Tomlin as a player who can make an impact for the club in the coming months and potentially beyond.
It is understood that the proximity to Tomlin's home in Leicester is a big factor in him considering joining the League Two outfit.
Talks have been held between Flynn and Tomlin and things are accelerating at a pace, it is understood, with just paperwork now left to sign. He could sign as early as Friday if things go smoothly.
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