Cardiff boss Erol Bulut praises influence of Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips
Erol Bulut hailed the impact of Liverpool loanee Nat Phillips after Cardiff completed a Severnside derby double over Bristol City.
Perry Ngs second-half header gave Cardiff a 1-0 success at Ashton Gate and back-to-back wins for the first time since October.
The Robins best moments were snuffed out by centre-back Phillips, who has proved a key player since arriving from Anfield in January.
Nat is a big add to us, he gives confidence in the defence and organises the defence, said Cardiff manager Bulut after his side had leapfrogged their opponents in the Championship standings.
Other players next to him are acting on it and thats important.
He has played for Liverpool and Celtic, big teams, and he knows when you get pressure how to stay calm.
He gives this to the other players too and with (goalkeeper) Ethan (Horvath) there now we can also play better from the back.
Cardiffs 66th-minute winner was their 17th goal from a set-piece this season a Championship high.
Ng rose highest from a David Turnbull corner for his sixth goal of the season and second against Bristol City after scoring in Cardiffs 2-0 home win over the Robins in October.
Bulut said: I think the game was 50-50 over the 90 minutes, but congratulations to my players because they worked really hard and the luck was on our side.
We are one of the best teams in the league from set-pieces.
We always work on it and, if you analyse my previous clubs, its something we did there too.
We kept our concentration and closing down the spaces, so I am happy.
We are getting a little confidence back, which is good, and we have to stay together.
Bristol City have now lost three in a row since winning at Middlesbrough and beating promotion-chasing Southampton at home.
A chorus of boos from home fans greeted the final whistle and boss Liam Manning said he would take it on the chin.
Manning said: Ive got thick skin. Of course I dont want to hear it.
I want the team to perform and succeed, Ive had to fight and scrap in my career to get where I am.
Ill take it on the chin, be calm and get ready to go again on Tuesday.
Asked what the Robins were short on in defeat, Manning replied: Quality in the final third.
We need people to step up and take responsibility in high-pressure moments and deliver.
On the goal, set-pieces are probably Cardiffs biggest threat and most of their goals come from first contacts as well and its hugely annoying.
I didnt think there was a huge amount of quality from both sides, so youve got to make sure you dont lose and it finishes 0-0.
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Brentford 2-2 Chelsea: Player ratings as late Disasi header earns draw for Blues
Chelsea needed a late goal to steal a point against Brentford
Nicolas Jackson put the Blues ahead in a comfortable first half
Mads Roerslev & Yoane Wissa netted after the break
By Tom Gott
4:59 PM GMT
Disasi had to save the day
Disasi had to save the day / Warren Little/GettyImages
Chelsea needed a late header from Axel Disasi to snatch a 2-2 draw with Brentford on Saturday.
The Blues were comfortable in the first half and were good value for the lead handed to them by Nicolas Jackson's header, but Brentford upped their performance after the break as goals from Mads Roerslev and Yoane Wissa turned the game on its head.
With the clock ticking down, Disasi popped up with a powerful header to save Chelsea from another disappointing defeat.
How the game unfolded
Ivan Toney saw a close-range volley blocked early on, before Wissa's strike from the edge of the box looked threatening but was always curling wide of Djordje Petrovic's far post.
Chelsea had their odd moments of quality but were often let down by a sloppy pass in the opening stages, with a speculative looping header from Disasi as close as the Blues came inside the first 20 minutes, despite boasting over 75% possession.
Wissa struck the side netting from a tight angle before Jackson rounded Mark Flekken but saw his slow effort cleared off the line by Mathias Jorgensen.
There would be no denying Jackson on the 35-minute mark, however, The Senegal striker rose highest to meet a cross from Malo Gusto and steered his header perfectly into the bottom corner.
The goal clearly knocked Brentford's confidence as Chelsea began to flex their quality. The Blues had plenty of half-chances but had to make do with their slender advantage at the break.
Brentford responded perfectly to start the second half. Toney's looping cross found Sergio Reguilon but the Spaniard's shot was deflected into the path of Roerslev for a simple tap-in.
Vitaly Janelt struck the post just moments later, before Cole Palmer missed a great chance on the counter when Chelsea really needed something to help ease the pressure Brentford's wave of momentum had created.
The Bees kept coming and got the second goal their performance deserved with 20 minutes to go. Frank Onyeka sent the ball soaring into the air where Wissa went to meet it with a glorious overhead kick that crashed into the back of the net.
Reguilon hit the post with a header as Chelsea continued to flounder in the air, but there were no such problems at the other end of the pitch as Palmer's cross was crashed into the back of the net by Disasi to set up an intriguing final five minutes.
Both sides pushed for a winning goal, but a draw was a fair result when all was said and done.
Brentford player ratings (3-5-2)
Mads Roerslev, Sergio Reguilon
Roerslev and Reguilon both caused problems / Warren Little/GettyImages
GK: Mark Flekken - 6/10 - Couldn't do much about either goal but was otherwise decent.
CB: Mathias Jorgensen - 5/10 - His clearance off the line was important but 'Zanka' had a tough time on Brentford's right side.
CB: Kristoffer Ajer - 5/10 - His sheer presence was a problem for Chelsea but Ajer fell short when actually tasked with defending. Not good enough for Jackson's header.
CB: Nathan Collins - 5/10 - Chelsea were busiest down their right side and gave Collins a really tough time. Gusto's late runs caused him all sorts of problems.
RM: Mads Roerslev - 7/10 - A poor first half followed by a really impressive second. In the right place for his goal and continued to cause problems down the right.
CM: Frank Onyeka - 6/10 - The game seemed to pass Onyeka by in the first half. A little more energy after the break as he helped his side press.
CM: Christian Norgaard - 7/10 - Put a real shift in to try and cover the entire midfield. Some great work rate and passion.
CM: Vitaly Janelt - 6/10 - Like Onyeka, Janelt improved as the game went on but was still a little quiet.
LM: Sergio Reguilon - 7/10 - Notably did his best to get up and down the pitch. Was key both Brentford's goals.
ST: Ivan Toney - 6/10 - Caused a handful of problems for Chelsea's backline but was feeding off scraps for the most part. Helped create the equaliser with a nice cross.
ST: Yoane Wissa - 7/10 - Brought energy to Brentford's attack and produced the best moment of the game.
Substitutes
SUB: Mathias Jensen (76' for Onyeka) - 6/10
SUB: Yehor Yarmoliuk (87' for Janelt) - N/A
SUB: Neal Maupay (87' for Wissa) - N/A
Subs not used: Thomas Strakosha (GK), Kim Ji-soo, Shandon Baptiste, Saman Ghoddos, Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter
Manager
Thomas Frank - 7/10 - Needed to change something at the break and got the results he was looking for. Brentford were unfortunate not to win this one.
Chelsea player ratings (3-5-2)
Nicolas Jackson
Jackson opened the scoring for Chelsea / Warren Little/GettyImages
GK: Djordje Petrovic - 6/10 - Didn't have a whole lot to do aside from pick the ball out the back of his net.
CB: Axel Disasi - 6/10 - Seemed to hesitate when given the chance to clear his lines for the equaliser, but just about redeemed himself with a nice late goal of his own.
CB: Trevoh Chalobah - 5/10 - Had a really solid first half but wilted when the pressure started to rise.
CB: Levi Colwill - 5/10 - Didn't enjoy the physical battle at all and failed to inspire confidence when Brentford got on top of the game.
RM: Malo Gusto - 6/10 - Another top attacking performance from Gusto, whose cross for Jackson's opener was excellent. Did let himself down with his defending, however.
CM: Moises Caicedo - 6/10 - One of the best players on the pitch in the first half but Caicedo was one of many who struggled when Brentford actually got going.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - 6/10 - Created plenty of chances with some smart passing but looked noticeably fatigued in the second half and had to be replaced.
CM: Conor Gallagher - 6/10 - Put himself about with real energy but spoiled his performance with a yellow card for diving.
LM: Ben Chilwell - 5/10 - Not involved as much as he should have been. Didn't get a whole lot wrong but fans were left wanting more.
ST: Cole Palmer - 7/10 - Struggled for time on the ball but had some excellent moments when he did finally see some possession. A great cross for Disasi's late goal.
ST: Nicolas Jackson - 7/10 - Another chaotic performance for Jackson, whose fluffed stepovers will end up being a bigger highlight than his goal.
Substitutes
SUB: Mykhailo Mudryk (71' for Fernandez) - 5/10
SUB: Raheem Sterling (79' for Colwill) - 6/10
Subs not used: Robert Sanchez (GK), Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella, Alfie Gilchrist, Cesare Casadei, Noni Madueke, Jimi Tauriainen
Manager
Mauricio Pochettino - 4/10 - Chelsea switched formation to counter Brentford's aerial threat and were then completely hammered in the air. While the players have to take some blame, the change in shape clearly didn't offer much.
Player of the match - Sergio Reguilon (Brentford)
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'I know my place' - Mauricio Pochettino plays down influence in Chelsea transfers
Mauricio Pochettino reluctant to delve into role in transfers and contract talks at Chelsea
Argentine insisted his 'place' at the club is simply as the head coach
Pochettino continually quizzed over influence on Conor Gallagher contract negotiations
By Sean Walsh
11:00 AM GMT
Pochettino insisted he is simply the head coach at Chelsea
Pochettino insisted he is simply the head coach at Chelsea / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Mauricio Pochettino suggested he does not have a huge say in Chelsea transfers and contract negotiations as his 'place' at the club is as head coach.
Chelsea have spent over £1bn on transfers since BlueCo's takeover of the club in 2022, but this has coincided with a rapid plunge down the Premier League standings - the Blues finished 12th last season and currently sit 11th in this year's standings. During Sunday's defeat to a depleted Liverpool side in the Carabao Cup final, Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville labelled Chelsea as 'billion-pound bottlejobs'.
Midfield duo Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo were both signed for nine-figure sums but have failed to live up to expectation so far, while the club's £89m deal to bring in Mykhailo Mudryk has also been regularly questioned.
One of Chelsea's more dependable players this season has been academy product Conor Gallagher, whose contract expires in 2025 and could be sold this summer if a new deal is not agreed.
At a press conference ahead of Saturday's trip to Brentford, Pochettino was asked whether he could have any influence in contract negotiations.
Mauricio Pochettino, Conor Gallagher
Pochettino is a fan of Gallagher / Clive Rose/GettyImages
"I am the coach, that needs to be my place," Pochettino said. "I cannot be involved in this. It's only between the club and Conor that can make the deal...I know my place."
When asked why he was so reluctant to give a more definitive answer on the situation, Pochettino replied: "Because there is nothing to win for me. What am I going to say? I am the head coach.
"My job is to coach the team and to pick the decisions for tomorrow, for the starting XI and squad, and try to improve the players and try to win games. That is my job.
"We have a very good relationship with the owners and sporting directors. My office is always open, and we have a very good relationship and dialogue. We are open to help in the way they think or believe we can help."
In his final summer as Tottenham boss, Pochettino said the club should look to change his job title from manager back to head coach due to his waning influence on transfers. Spurs infamously went 18 months without a signing from 2018 to 2019 before bringing in only four players - Tanguy Ndombele, Giovani Lo Celso, Ryan Sessegnon and Jack Clarke - in the final window prior to sacking Pochettino.
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