Yahoo News Tonight's Cardiff City news as star issues statement that ends his season and Neil Harris delivers tub-thumping message
Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, April 12.
Man City's Wilson-Esbrand announces season is over
Josh Wilson-Esbrand has revealed his season is over.
The Manchester City flyer joined the Bluebirds at the end of January to battle Jamilu Collins for that spot on the left-hand side of defence. He looked bright and pacey at times, but also had games in which he looked defensively vulnerable.
Last Saturday he was brought on at left-back against Hull City and was taken off not long after, clutching his hamstring. Unfortunately, it is bad enough to rule him out of the final four games of the Bluebirds' campaign.
"Unfortunately my season’s come to an end," he wrote on social media. "It’s been a stop-start season but a positive one nevertheless.
"Big thanks to those at Stade Reims & Cardiff City . Wishing you all the best for the future. Time to get right and be back fit for what I hope is a smooth and successful season to come! God is great!"
Wilson-Esbrand played 11 Championship games for the Bluebirds, starting eight.
Collins 'calm' on Bulut situation
Jamilu Collins says the players are "calm" about Erol Bulut's situation, with the manager's contract set to expire in four games' time.
Bulut himself has said talks with chairman Mehmet Dalman have been "positive" — you can read about that here — but ultimately it's Vincent Tan's call whether the manager stays here beyond this season.
Cardiff's form at the back end of the season has been impressive, though. They have won six of their last nine games and have firmly secured a mid-table spot. A blessed relief for fans after two dreadful seasons back-to-back.
Many fans want Bulut to continue, while others are critics of his style of play and that is likely the one concern Tan has. Nevertheless, Collins said the players are backing the manager and are at ease with the situation.
"To be honest, everything is calm," the Nigeria international said. "We are all smiling in the dressing room and playing the games. Everything is fine, the manager is great, the boys are doing well with him.
"From the start of the season we have played for the manager to stay. It's what we are doing continuously and we will continue to do that until the end of the season, get as many points as the manager says he wants us to get and we will do that for him.
"We just play. We don't know exactly what is going on, so we just enjoy playing football. We don't know what's going on there, if we knew something of course we would say, but we are just enjoying it. The manager is always smiling with the boys and everything is calm.
"Everyone has seen the progression, I don't need to say anything about that. [Compared to] what we have had the last two seasons, we can all see the progress."
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Neil Harris' message to fans ahead of facing his old club
Neil Harris has pleaded with Millwall fans to "galvanise" their team for the visit of his old club Cardiff City.
The Lions are scrapping for their lives near the relegation zone but have picked up some important points in recent weeks, including a win over Leicester City on Tuesday night.
It means Millwall are four points above the drop zone with as many games to play ahead of the Bluebirds' visit this weekend, and Harris delivered a tub-thumping message to Lions fans.
"We went to Rotherham and within the space of five days there is a bit of negativity around the group because I'm sure they feel they've let the fans down," the ex-Cardiff boss said.
"We haven't got time for that in the changing room. The fans have understood we are in a difficult moment. There will be bumps in the road and it won't be all plain sailing.
"We are in a difficult moment with a couple of defeats, we did well against Leicester, but we've got more to do.
"Everyone told me when I took over, 'These lads can't play at The Den. They can't stand up to it. They play with fear.'
"Well that's 10 points in four games and we've played some good teams as well. West Brom are a good side, Watford are a good side, Leicester are top of the league. Birmingham are fighting for their lives. We have played good sides and put them to bed.
"All I will say to the fan base coming at the weekend, come and galvanise at the weekend and get behind the team, because the lads are doing the business.
"Yes, we let in a 94th-minute goal against Huddersfield and a 90th-minute goal against Rotherham, that doesn't define us. What defines us is these home games. Come and get behind us at the weekend, because the people who have turned up have seen a proper football team."
