Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, March 10.
Ralls: I've always respected Sol and that hasn't changed
Joe Ralls is delighted with the return of his old team-mate Sol Bamba on the coaching staff and says the new assistant manager commands respect within the dressing room.
Bluebirds fans' favourite Bamba is Sabri Lamouchi's No.2 at Cardiff City Stadium, a move which has been roundly welcomed by supporters.
Very few in this current squad will have played with Bamba, but Ralls, of course, certainly has. And the City skipper believes he has played a part in Cardiff's recent turnaround in fortunes.
"It's been good having him around the building, he has got a big personality. He has been a great player here and was a great team-mate for me," Ralls said.
"So, to have him in a coaching capacity has been really good. He has come in with the manager and had a big impact on the team.
"I've always had respect for him. He was a senior player here when I was playing with him, nothing has changed in that respect."
Bamba has always been earmarked as manager material in recent years, even when Neil Warnock was here the old gaffer would put forward that theory.
He is only in the infancy of his coaching career, of course, with this being his first job in the dugout, but many believe he has a bright future in management ahead of him.
Ralls assured, though, that Bamba's focus is simply on the job at hand this season.
"I've not experienced him as a coach, but he has always had that senior role and someone who has spoken when something needed to be said. He'll have that role here," Ralls added.
"When the manager has finished speaking he will always have his input. I think the dynamic is working really well and he is enjoying it.
"I'm not sure what Sol's plans are, he is young in his coaching career, he's learning and picking things up from the manager which will stand him in good stead for the future.
"He's obviously got a job here for us at the minute and I'm sure that's all he'll be focused on."
Perry Ng nominated for goal of the month
Perry Ng's stunning free-kick against Birmingham City has been nominated for the Championship's February goal of the month.
With the Bluebirds having been winless since before the World Cup, and in Sabri Lamouchi's first three games in charge, Ng's whipped effort late into the game at St Andrew's set Cardiff on their way to an eventual 2-0 win.
It was Ng's first-ever free-kick goal and, boy, didn't he produce? Right in the postage stamp, sending the player, the dugout and the travelling fans into euphoria.
Middlesbrough's Chuba Akpom, QPR's Ilias Chair and Norwich City's Marcelino Nunez are also up for the award.
To vote for Perry's goal, click here.
Oumar Niasse has a new club
Former Cardiff City and Everton striker Oumar Niasse has signed for Morecambe as a free agent.
Morecambe are currently languishing in League One, currently sitting in 21st position, with Burnley loanee Michael Mellon having just been ruled out for the season.
The 32-year-old had a nightmare half-season on loan with the Bluebirds in the second half of their most recent Premier League campaign, netting a grand total of zero goals in 13 games.
He has been without a club since his contract at Burton Albion ended last summer.
Niasse said: “It is fantastic to be here and to join the club. When I spoke to the manager and staff, it was clear that there is a togetherness and unity here that I want to be part of.
“I see that challenge that is ahead of us, but it is one I relish and look forward to and I want to help this club achieve the target of staying in League One.”
Morecambe manager Derek Adams added: “I am delighted to bring Oumar to the Mazuma Stadium. He is a player with good experience and is at a good age.
“We have been trying to bring in a striker for a period of time and we wanted to make sure that player was going to be the right fit which we feel Oumar will be.”
“I am sure our supporters will join me in giving Oumar a warm welcome to the football club and help him to feel settled in our culture right away.”
Fighting talk from PNE star
Preston North End's Ben Whiteman predicts a 'fight' when Cardiff City visit Deepdale tomorrow.
The Bluebirds are on a positive run of form, winning three of their last four matches, and hope to continue their climb away from the relegation zone this weekend.
However, Saturday's opponents are on a decent run themselves, having been unbeaten in their last five matches, meaning two of the division's form teams over the last four matches will meet.
Speaking about this weekend's clash with the Bluebirds, Whiteman said: “Yeah, they’re a team fighting, but so are we.
“We don’t want to let the season peter out, we’re all fighting for points and that will be no different come the weekend.
“They are closer to the relegation group but listen – we’re going into the game, wanting to win the game, and hopefully we can do that.”
Young Bluebirds get the Wales call
A clutch of Cardiff youngsters have been called up to Wales under-17s' squad.
Wales take on Scotland, Iceland and Montenegro in the under-17 Euro Elite Round this month and several Bluebirds kids have got the call-up.
Cody Twose, Dylan Lawlor, Luey Giles, Troy Perrett and Lewys Benjamin are all included in the squad.
Former Bluebirds Gabriele Biancheri and Charlie Crew are also named in the squad.
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