' John Brayford '

Cardiff City defender John Brayford says Bluebirds ready to 'push up table' to establish promotion credentials

Tues Sep 30, 2014

By Terry Phillips


The right-back - a regular part of the team this season after a loan spell away last term - is targeting a full haul of nine points from three games in a week


John Brayford is feeling the love at Cardiff City at last – and believes the Bluebirds will launch a strong challenge for promotion.

The Stoke-born defender was largely ignored by Malky Mackay during City’s Premier League season and by the time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took charge he was already on loan at Sheffield United.

Solskjaer, though, handed Brayford the number two shirt at the start of this season and Brayford will make his ninth appearance at Brighton this evening.

“Sheffield United really took to me and I took to them,” said 26-year-old Brayford. “I was able to gain in confidence and brought that back to Cardiff. This, after all, is my football club.”

The players are still waiting to find out who their new manager will be - Russell Slade remains the favourite - but right-back Brayford and his team-mates are focused on a solid haul of points from away matches against Brighton tonight and then Blackpool on Friday.

City have earned four points from their last two matches, a draw at Derby and the 2-1 win against Sheffield Wednesday, and are four points outside the play-off positions with 37 fixtures still to be played.

“Our aim is to go into the international break after the two fixtures this week unbeaten - and we’d love to have taken nine points out of nine in three games,” said Brayford. “We are more than capable of that and if you take that form into the break the confidence will carry over.


“It’s still early days and you don’t get a true reflection until around Christmas. My feeling is that we’ll be alright.

“Results weren’t great at one stage, but I believe we’ll soon be pushing on up the table.”

I felt for Brayford under Malky, Annis

Hopefully, he can now settle himself into the side and show exactly why Derby were gutted to see him leave!

that cant be malkays fault surely

he's good, not seeing a top-class PL standard RB as yet

I felt for Brayford under Malky, Annis

Hopefully, he can now settle himself into the side and show exactly why Derby were gutted to see him leave!

Same here.

Something must've happened between the two as he's one of the best right backs I've seen play for us, and dare I say it, better than McNaughton was when he was at his best.

Brayford better be ready to 'push up the pitch' then Seriously though, he was awesome against Wednesday.

Brayford was awesome at Derby according to my locals here.

A lot of the Derby fans believed at the time if Derby were challenging for promotion they would have kept him on. The offer of premier football was too much to turn down for a player at Derby as it look like they were a selling club and promotion was not on the agenda. If Brayford stayed at Derby they would certainly be one of the favourites to get an auto place now.

I seen him in town the night after the Boro game. The man was a disgrace to the club. Shirt was ripped stumbling all over the place. I get that players need downtime and all for them having a drink but he was a state. His friends we're holding him up for christ sake. Was embarrassing

that cant be malkays fault surely

What are you on about????

I felt for Brayford under Malky, Annis

Hopefully, he can now settle himself into the side and show exactly why Derby were gutted to see him leave!

Same here.

Something must've happened between the two as he's one of the best right backs I've seen play for us, and dare I say it, better than McNaughton was when he was at his best.

I think he's been good going forward in many games - really caught my eye in the Huddersfield-game the way he set pace, crossed well and linked up with Mats. Still a lot of room for improvement defensively; positioning is still awful at times!

He's improving with every game. Despite everyone raving about Fabio, most teams attack us down our left side....wonder why?

He's improving with every game. Despite everyone raving about Fabio, most teams attack us down our left side....wonder why?

Given the fact that three are more natural right footed players there are more right wingers than left ones and lower quality left backs than rights backs. Just wondering.

cos there is no cover left midfield