By Gareth James

Erol Bulut believes he has stopped the rot at Cardiff City with a victory he admitted was crucial for a team that had lost its way.

The Bluebirds manager insisted his team can improve their level of football after their nervy 2-1 home victory over Stoke City.

But as exercise in repairing self-belief and restoring optimism for the remainder of the season, Bulut conceded the result was everything.

“When we had the last win at home, it was a long time ago. The confidence was not the best in the team because we lost games,” he said.

“I said after the last game (against Blackburn), ‘this is a game where we have to get our confidence back’. We got one point and this game was to continue to build on our confidence.

“It was a must today to get three points. I’m really satisfied with the performance of the team.

“Of course, you can add in parts of the game, better football, but in the situation we’re in right now, the first half was really good. We scored two goals, we got an early goal from a free-kick.

“We fought until the end to not concede a second goal.”

Erol Bulut IN!!!

Have that. Cardiff City the Bluebirds ⚽️#CardiffCity #TanOut pic.twitter.com/NCf585VPz7

— Rich Lewis (Reg) (@RichLew82) February 24, 2024

Cardiff ended their six-game winless run at home and scored their first Championship goals at home since Boxing Day.

It also kept the club nine points clear of the relegation zone after Sheffield Wednesday, QPR and Millwall all won.

The result will ease some of the pressure on Bulut, although with the manager out of contract this summer – and no talks yet begun over a new deal – his future remains uncertain.

“But football is pressure. Our job is pressure. This how we have to live,” added Bulut.

“Whether it’s the manager or the player. Okay, sometimes it’s not good to have so much pressure, especially when you are young as a player.

“So, how to handle it. At home there’s been a bit of pressure because it’s been a long time since we have won. This makes pressure.

“The fans want to win at home and to see the three points. They want to see good football. Of course, it’s not easy. Tuesday was a draw. A game we could win but we didn’t.

“To get the confidence back was important. Our offensive part scored the goals and now the confidence, I think the players are on a better level than they’ve been 10 days before.”

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We’re Not Fighting Relegation, Insists Cardiff City Boss Erol Bulut

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— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) February 23, 2024

The Bluebirds started well and took the lead in the fifth minute as Kion Etete headed the ball beyond Daniel Iversen.

Karlan Grant doubled Cardiff’s lead after 32 minutes before Bae Jun-ho’s first goal for Stoke in the 41st minute gave the visitors hope in south Wales.

But the Potters were unable to find an equaliser after a strong second-half showing as they lost for the sixth time in seven outings to drop into the bottom three.

The home side barely laid a glove on their opponents in the second half, with Perry Ng lashing a free-kick into the Stoke wall and Yakou Meite heading wide.

Stoke continued to push for a late leveller, but they slumped to a third-successive away defeat, while victory was Cardiff’s first in five showings.

Stoke fans voiced their frustrations and manager Steven Schumacher said: “It’s understandable because we’ve lost another game of football.

“But I think they can see that the players have tried and gave 100 per cent.

I’ve just checked at of my Hotel in Cardiff,got in the lift,pressed ground floor and the lift said”Going Down”,even the lift knows #SCFC

— Buxton and High Peak Stoke City supporters club (@BuxtonStoke) February 25, 2024

“In two key areas of the game we haven’t been good enough. That’s been a recurring theme throughout the whole season – not just lately – and that’s why we’re in the position that we’re in.

“So we get it, all we ask is, we all need to stick together because we’re going to need their support for the next 12 games.

“It’s similar to what I’ve said numerous times since I’ve been here. A team that’s been in control of the game, created more chances than the opposition, had more corners and more attempts at goal, but we’ve lost it because we’ve been punished from two errors and haven’t been clinical in our finishing.”