Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut heaped praise on his young players after his first win as Bluebirds boss courtesy of a Carabao Cup triumph over Colchester United.
Ollie Tanner starred for the Bluebirds, while Rubin Colwill also got on the score sheet. Kieron Evans offered some positive glimpses, while Joel Colwill, Cian Ashford and Xavier Benjamin all made their competitive debuts.
City did let in two sloppy goals, though, and Bulut was displeased with the nature of how they conceded them.
EROL BULUT:
“The game was quite good, with the ball possession and the chances we created. We scored only two but could have scored four or five," Bulut said.
“On the other hand, we conceded two poor goals because we were not organised and there were individual mistakes. We have to work on this.
“Generally, the young guys did quite well. Tanner, Evans was good, Joel Colwill played his first game. Cian Ashford was also playing his first game. Romaine Sawyers came back from injury, Xavier Benjamin played his first game.
"I was satisfied with how we kept the ball and made passing options. We have to continue to work on that, we have to be better and better always.”
Tanner was undoubtedly a positive from the evening. He made a number of exciting runs down the wing and linked up well with Rubin inside him.
There appears to be a question mark over whether he will stay with the squad or go out on loan again this summer, and Bulut admitted his mind has not been made up just yet. The winger can't have done his chances of sticking around any harm with that performance against the U's, though.
“We haven’t made our decision yet. Young players have to play. It’s not good for them to sit on the bench or out of the squad in the under-21s," Bulut said of Tanner.
"Maybe it’s better for him to go out on loan but somewhere he will play often, not 10 games, it won't be enough for him, a minimum of 30-35 games he will have to play to increase his qualities.
"Then, you never know, you might have a really good player for the future.”
Bulut had hoped at least one player would be signed between the Leeds United draw on Sunday and the Colchester tie on Wednesday night. That never transpired, though.
However, he is confident of getting one through the door before this week is over.
“I hope always! I won’t stop hoping," he said of transfers. "Transfer periods are always difficult.
"We only have three weeks now. Players will come in but on details sometimes it takes a little bit more time. But I think by the end of the week we’ll get one player in.
"I hope for more, but we can agree on one first and then we'll see.”
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