Here's your round-up of all the latest Cardiff City headlines for Wednesday, April 27.
Phillips out to prove a point
Dillon Phillips says he's keen to prove to boss Steve Morison that he's worthy of Cardiff's number one jersey next season.
The Bluebirds plan to bring in another goalkeeper this summer, with Alex Smithies set to leave the Welsh capital following the expiration of his contract. Welsh under-21 keeper George Ratcliffe is also set to be a free agent at the end of the season, and it's not yet clear whether he will be kept on.
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Cardiff are understood to be hopeful of bringing in former Newcastle United and Rangers goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, but Phillips is clearly keen to prove that he is good enough to take the gloves next term. Having played the last four games, the 26-year-old is hoping to strengthen his claim with a strong end to the season, starting with the trip to Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
"I’m really enjoying it," he told the official website. "It’s not a nice place to be when you’re not playing, especially as a goalkeeper. Obviously, you don’t get 20 minutes here or there like a striker would!
"For me, it’s frustrating that the season is ending, really. I just want to play as many games as I can, so hopefully I can do that next season and really kickstart my career here.
"It feels like the start of pre-season for me, playing these first few games, but I feel like I’m getting back into my rhythm now.
"I’m enjoying it, and I don’t want it to end. But, we’ve got three more games for me to put my stamp onto the team."
Moore relishes Swans boo boys
Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore admits he enjoyed the frosty reception at the hands of Swansea City fans on Tuesday evening, adding that it actually spurred him on during his side's thrilling 3-3 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium.
Moore, who completed a deadline day move to the south coast from Cardiff back in January, was making his first appearance for the Cherries since picking up a foot injury three minutes into his debut back in February. The 29-year-old came off the bench to net twice as his side fought back from three goals down to earn an unlikely point.
The home crowd clearly hadn't forgotten Moore's Cardiff connections, but the boos and jeers from the Jack Army clearly didn't bother the Wales international. When asked by the Daily Echo if the reception added any extra motivation, Moore responded: “Yeah, definitely. I think it's potentially spurred me on even more.
“Obviously come from playing for Cardiff, Swansea fans don't take to that too nicely, but it's all love, it's all football.
“When I put the Welsh shirt on, like I said, it's all love, and it was a nice moment actually. I enjoyed the booing!”
Moore's return will come as a timely boost to Rob Page and Wales, who are set to take on either Scotland or Ukraine in June for a place in the World Cup.
City backed to claim a point on Teesside
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton has backed Cardiff to halt their three-match losing run and claim a point at play-off chasing Middlesbrough.
The Bluebirds head to the Riverside on the back of defeats to Sheffield United, Luton and Hull, and will likely be taking on the role of underdogs against Chris Wilder's men, who could move to within two points of the play-off positions with a win. However, Prutton believes Steve Morison's side have enough about them to earn a point in the north east.
"It has been such a poor run of form for Middlesbrough at just the wrong time," he wrote in his Sky Sports column. "Five without a win has seen their play-off hopes hanging by a thread, and anything but a win on Wednesday night and it's surely all over.
"Cardiff seem to be on an early holiday judging by their recent results. It has been three pretty disappointing defeats in a row, and that run of form bodes well for Boro. But I just have a suspicion that could turn on Wednesday night and they could get something.
"Prutton predicts: 1-1."
Wilder seeking a 'hero' against Cardiff
Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder has challenged his strikers to prove a point against Cardiff.
Boro come into the game having not won any of their last five, a run that has left their play-off hopes hanging by a thread. A win over the Bluebirds would go a long way to easing any jitters over securing a top six finish this season, but Wilder admits his side will need to improve in the final third, having drawn a blank in their last four outings.
“We’ve not done well enough at the top end of the pitch,” the Boro boss told The Northern Echo.
“There’s no getting away from that because we’ve had enough chances. Ultimately, the pressure and the onus is on the centre-forwards to score, and all of them have had enough chances.
“They’ve all had enough game time and enough chances to come up with the goods, and it seems at times they’re just reluctant to really grab that opportunity and say, ‘It’s me’.
“We need big performances from everybody now, but there’s that chance there for somebody to really put themselves forward to be the hero.”
