Manager reaction as Cardiff beat Cheltenham

Last Updated : 27-Aug-2025 by Michael Morris

Brian Barry-Murphy

“I’m very pleased. The clean sheet looked in doubt for different parts of the game, but overall, pleased with the performance. To score three goals at home and give so many of our players who have come through our Academy minutes was very special.

“We have to be focused on improving every day and to try to win every single game. Me myself, when I was playing and when I'm coaching, I find it very difficult to treat any game as less important, because when you go back to Saturday and deem that more important, it's very difficult to process. Based on my experience, if you treat every game as the most important game, it’s only a good thing.”

Isaak Davies opened the scoring for Cardiff.

“You’ve probably seen signs of what Isaak can do and how dangerous he can be. Isaak would probably prefer to play as a central striker, but his willingness to play out wide for us early in the season has allowed us to build his fitness.

“He’s still not where he wants to be physically, but that’s going to be a gradual process based on the difficulties he’s faced over the last twelve months, but he’s a player who has a lot of potential for us.”

And Barry-Murphy was full of praise for the squad he has inherited.

“I don't think I could have dreamed of the response I've had from the players. There was an excitement from myself to come and work with this group of players based on what I thought I knew about them, but the potential and the mentality is even better than I what I presumed.

“I don't have to worry about any lack of focus or getting carried away because of what I've seen in training. I had no concerns about tonight's game apart from dealing with a difficult team.”

Michael Flynn

“With the goals we conceded, we defended really poorly, which is a big bane of our season so far.

“But we did create some chances today, we had more chances tonight than we have done for the last three games.

“Yes, Joe made a lot of good saves, I’m not delusional. We’re in a sticky part but I know I’ll turn it around, especially when we get a few reinforcements in.”