" LAMOUCHI: WE STARTED TO PLAY WHEN THEY SCORED "

Sabri Lamouchi hails Cardiff City's 'goal of the season' as he makes plea to Bluebirds fans

The manager spoke after the 3-1 win over Watford
By Glen Williams


Sabri Lamouchi branded Sory Kaba's overhead kick in the 3-1 win over Watford Cardiff City's goal of the season.

Kaba scored the final goal in the remarkable turnaround win after Kion Etete and Cedric Kipre had netted following Ismaila Sarr's early opener for the Hornets.

And despite the disappointing start, Lamouchi was full of praise for his team's character as they came from behind to secure a vital win in the battle to avoid relegation.

"It's a massive result," Lamouchi said. "The beginning was not so good. We didn't start like we planned to start. They scored very quickly, very early. It was very strange, I don't have an explanation about that.

"We started to play when they scored. We came back with a goal in the first opportunity, with Kion, and then after that we started to keep more of the ball and play a little bit more and create something different between the lines, playing wide.

"The second one, with the free-kick, Cedric scored an important goal to give the team power and confidence. And a few minutes after comes the best goal this season! Sory Kaba scores an amazing goal and when you come back in the dressing room with three goals here after a bad start - we just need to control the players.

"We just needed to tell them that the second half we would suffer. But we needed to try to keep the ball more, we didn't.

"But I like the determination, the commitment, the attitude and desire to keep the result. At the end, even if they control the ball, they didn't create many opportunities. Ryan (Allsop) didn't do any saves. I am proud of the players. Happy for them. I am very glad for the squad because they showed one more time the desire to stay in the Championship.

"It's not easy to come here and win - and score three goals!"

Kaba now has seven goals in 13 games and is flying. That goal at Vicarage Road, as Lamouchi says, was the best of the lot so far.

He will be crucial if Cardiff are indeed going to play Championship football next season and Lamouchi thanked the club for making the call on signing him on deadline day in January on loan from Midtjylland.

"I am happy to sign him because the club did very good things with him. The club made absolutely a great choice to sign him at the end of the transfer window," he added.

"He is a fantastic guy. He is with us two months but it looks like he's been in Cardiff two years! He has scored very important goals and tonight is probably the best one."

Other teams around Cardiff dropped points in their midweek fixtures, meaning Cardiff jumped up into 19th, but they face Stoke City this weekend in another tough test.

Lamouchi hopes to see the sort of support Cardiff fans showed at Vicarage Road and even pleaded with the Bluebirds fan base to pack out the stadium at the weekend.

"We just need to keep this mentality. I told them before, we can lose, but we don't need to lose the performance, attitude and commitment," he said.

"We will not be unlucky all games. We need to trust and believe in ourselves. They deserve to be safe as soon as possible, but it's not done.

"We have an important game on Saturday. That is why I'd like to see Cardiff City Stadium full, because for our fans, our players and the club, these three points are so important for us."

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Sabri Lamouchi:


“It's a massive result,” Sabri began. “The beginning wasn't good. We didn't start as planned. They scored very quickly. It was very strange though. We started to play once they scored.

“Thankfully, we came back with a goal at the first opportunity through Kion. He did very well with it too. The second one, with the free-kick, Cedric scored an important goal to give the team power and confidence. And a few minutes after, Sory scored probably the best goal we've scored all season.

“The Board did a very good job getting him. Credit to them. They made a great choice. He's a fantastic guy. He's been with us two months but plays like he's been in Cardiff for two years. He's already scored some very important goals.

“I'm proud and happy for my players. Tonight, they all played at a high level. Maybe not at times with all quality, but with determination and attitude.

“We need to keep this mentality. I told them before if we lose, we don't lose our performance, attitude and commitment. We will not be unlucky in all games. We need to trust and believe in ourselves.”

Sory Kaba, Kion Etete, Callum O'Dowda
There is little rest for City. On Saturday afternoon, we welcome Stoke City to South Wales for another colossal clash.

Sabri continued: “Including today it is five games in 20 days. Our players know that. We must focus game-by-game and to try and get points. If not three, then one. But we have to be aiming to get points in all games.

“I liked the communion with our fans at the end tonight. It's an important game on Saturday, and that's why I'd like to see Cardiff City Stadium full because for our fans, for our players and for the Club, these three points at home could be so important for us.”

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