By Gareth James
Sabri Lamouchi has told his Cardiff City players they have five “Cup finals” to save themselves from relegation in which they have to find a “killer instinct.”
Lamouchi watched his Bluebirds crash to a 4-1 defeat at Sheffield United that leaves them out of the Championship bottom three only by goal difference.
They could well drop into the drop zone if they lose their next game – away at Watford next Wednesday – after which they will have four more games against Stoke City, Rotherham, Huddersfield and Burnley.
“We need to be more of a killer in the two boxes and not give anything away,” said Lamouchi after Sheffield United moved closer to securing automatic promotion to the Premier League by coming from behind at Bramall Lane.
“Against a good team like Sheffield United, it’s a mistake and you pay.
“We take it game by game. We have five games to play. One more than the others, it will be five finals.
“But as I said to my players, if we play like we played today, we will not be so unlucky. If we take care of the small details, we can avoid the small mistakes, and we can maybe have a different result.”
“When you lose it’s never a good day. Of course, I’m not happy with the result. I’m not happy because today my players deserved something else.
This Relegation Business Is All New To Me, Admits Cardiff City Boss Sabri Lamouchihttps://t.co/XdOWvkwJpR via @Dai_Sport_
— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) April 15, 2023
“But we need to take care of the small details. Unfortunately, with the small mistakes and small details against us, it is like it is.
“We started the game very well and I can say that the first half was very good. We probably deserved to stay ahead, because they score with their first shot and we could score our second with Joe (Ralls) in that one-on-one with the keeper.
“We missed our chance to increase the score or to come back in the game.”
Sory Kaba took his tally to five goals in seven games when he gave the Bluebirds a surprise lead from the penalty spot, but Manchester City loanee James McAtee levelled with an impressive solo goal, before a spectacular diving header from Jack Robinson made it 2-1.
Cardiff substitute Connor Wickham struck the woodwork as the visitors chased an equaliser, but Iliman Ndiaye slammed in a third and Ciaran Clark prodded in from a yard out to take the game away from Lamouchi’s relegation-threatened side.
James McAtee has scored or assisted in each of his last 4⃣ Championship games for Sheffield United.
🔛🔥#twitterblades #sufc pic.twitter.com/Enk1StCPyr
— The Bladesman (@The_Bladesman) April 16, 2023
The point earned by managerless Reading means they are now level on points with Cardiff, even after their six-points deduction for breaking financial fair play rules.
Reading have matches remaining against Luton, Coventry City, Wigan and Huddersfield.
Lamouchi added: “There are a lot of games this month.
“On Wednesday we play Watford and on Saturday we play Stoke at home, so it is a lot of effort that we are asking of the players. But, they know absolutely what they have to do.
“We must take it game by game. For now, I’m upset for the players because they gave a lot of effort, especially in the first hour.
“They gave everything, so I cannot complain about my players. What I can say is, keep going and we will still be there. We must play like that for the next five games.”