Article: Steve Garland
Cardiff Captain Mark Hudson reserved particular praise for Darcy Blake following the Bluebirds 4-2 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Leicester City, which secured an intriguing fifth round tie against Chelsea.
Blake, who had previously been out on loan at Plymouth Argyle, started his first game of the season for the Bluebirds on Saturday, taking up a central midfield role initially and impressing the Cardiff Captain who said: "It was great for Darcy today, I thought he was fantastic.
"He showed his versatility as he also slotted in at right back and did ever so well, so if he can keep himself around the squad then it will be great for us. Everybody knows about our injury troubles at the moment and we haven't got the biggest squad, but it gives the likes of Darcy and Aaron Wildig their chance and they've done ever so well and have shown what they can do when they have played."
Two late goals secured the Bluebirds place in the fifth-round of the competition for only the second time in sixteen years and Hudson admitted that the FA Cup is high on his list of priorities, though also bemoaned the way his side conceded the two goals which almost put their place in jeopardy.
Of the importance of Cup he said, "It's up there. Obviously we want to do as well as we can in the league, but the FA Cup is a big one and you want to be involved in it. The further you can go in the competition can then translate into the league performance and we want to go as far as we can.
"On Saturday it was a close call. They were poor goals to concede, we know that they are poor from our point of view and we need to cut them out. I think there was a bit of hesitation from a few bodies, but it's a cup game and we showed good character in the second half to come back from behind and secure the win. But we know what we have done wrong and we are our own and biggest critics and we'll go and work hard on that in the week."
The 'City captain also underlined the need for a few fresh faces in the second half of a long campaign.
"I think we do need to add to the side to maybe spice it up a bit and maybe give everyone a bit of a lift," he admitted. "It would also bring a bit more competition which could drive on the players we already have at the club until the end of the season, so obviously if we can do it then great, but you never know in football."
