Erol Bulut speaks to the press

Erol pre-Bristol City | We will try to take maximum points

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Erol Bulut spoke to the press ahead of the Severnside derby against Bristol City on Saturday. 

The Bluebirds recorded four points last week, with a draw against Blackburn Rovers and a win over Stoke City.

"Of course, when you win and get three points, the morale and everything is much better and much easier for the manager, for the players and for the Club," Erol began. "I said after draw against Blackburn Rovers that this game was important for us to get the confidence back.

"Then, we won 2-1 and this brought the confidence higher. Now, the team has got a little bit more confidence because of both games, but now we have to continue. Against Bristol City, we have to be sharp and fully concentrated. 

"In the last game, I was happy that our offensive part scored the goals, not only our defenders from set-pieces, that makes me happy. We have to continue with that.

"In training, when we have the small-sided games or general things like finishing, the players look like their confidence has come back. For the fans and in front of the fans, to win at home brings a lot of positivity back, which we need for Saturday."

Erol Bulut

Bristol City currently sit 12th in the Championship table, level on 44 points with the Bluebirds. 

Erol continued: "I played in many [derbies], I managed many, I had two here, the first part, the Bristol City game and also Swansea, it went really good for us. I hope that on Saturday we can repeat the same. 

"We have 12 games to play and we don't relax. We will try to take maximum points that we can from the 36 points that are available. Saturday is the first leg."

Erol Bulut in Cardiff City training

The City boss concluded by giving an injury update on his squad.

"Callum O'Dowda will be back, we are happy. It is like a new transfer, we can say. He trained well in the last few days and weeks. He was pushing really hard. We didn't want to push him too quickly. Maybe last time, we brought him back too quick, but now, he is in a good way and we can use him on Saturday. He's one of the high-quality players we have at Cardiff City. 

"Jak Alnwick will need one more week. He had some tests today, but needs some more tests to not feel the pain in his knee, so it will be next week, I hope.

"Callum Robinson is training with us, he is also in a good way. We are pushing him to be in fully ready to play in ten days.

"Right now, Mark McGuinness is training with our performance coaches. I think he will need a bit of time. Maybe after the international break, he will be with us."

Watch more from Erol and Dimitrios Goutas on Cardiff City TV.