Copyright walesonline
In a season full of storylines, rising stars and renewed optimism, one Cardiff City player has quietly gone about becoming one of Brian Barry-Murphy’s most reliable performers. Centre-back Will Fish, 22, has not always grabbed the headlines, but he has been nothing short of exceptional for the Bluebirds. While others have flitted in and out of form, Fish has delivered week after week, establishing himself as one of Cardiff’s most consistent players. His performance in Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup win over Wrexham was the latest reminder of just how important he has become. Commanding at the back and composed in possession, he capped it all off with his first goal for the club - and what a goal it was. Sign up to our Cardiff City WhatsApp channel here . When the ball dropped to him inside the box midway through the second half, he lashed home a thunderous volley in front of the travelling fans to secure a 2-1 win and a place in the quarter-finals. It was a finish any striker would have been proud of, and a moment that perfectly encapsulated the confidence he’s playing with right now. It was fantastic to see him celebrating so vociferously in front of the travelling Bluebirds faithful. "When I seen the ball come over, my eyes just lit up," he said after the match. "It's a great feeling, especially to score in a game like this. To score the winner means the world and I'm very happy. "We knew it would be a tough game, we have done a lot of travelling recently. But we created chances and always looked fairly secure. We can now take massive confidence from that into the season." Fish’s rise has been steady and understated. He doesn’t draw much attention to himself, but quietly, few can argue he has become one of the first names on Barry-Murphy’s team sheet. His positioning, reading of the game and growth in a leadership role have stood out in a young, evolving side still learning how to manage matches at League One level. The challenge now for Barry-Murphy isn’t whether Fish should start. The real question is who plays alongside him. Cardiff’s defensive record this season tells its own story. They have given up too many clear chances and have had to rely on Nathan Trott’s brilliance on several occasions to bail them out. The back line has changed frequently, too, for one reason or another, and that probably hasn't helped things. Calum Chambers, one of the most experienced players in the squad, has offered calmness and stability when called upon, especially in recent weeks. He, too, was excellent at Wrexham and the same can be said for his display at Burnley in the previous round. His leadership and positional intelligence are undeniable, and his recent performances suggest he still has plenty to offer. Then there’s Dylan Lawlor, the teenage sensation whose emergence has been one of the most exciting developments of the campaign. At just 19, his maturity and composure has turned heads, and Barry-Murphy has been careful to balance his minutes without stalling his development. Many inside the club believe he’s destined for the very top and he will need to play regularly to realise that potential. Gabriel Osho, meanwhile, was signed for a significant fee and brings both Premier League and Ligue 1 experience. On his day, he looks every inch the modern defender; strong, athletic and confident carrying the ball out from the back. But a few costly mistakes in recent weeks have raised questions about his reliability in pressure moments. It’s a selection headache, but, as cliched as it might be, it's the kind managers don’t mind having. Each centre-back offers something different - experience, youth, athleticism or leadership - yet Fish appears to blend all those traits together. Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here . For Barry-Murphy, who has preached patience and stability since taking charge, finding the right long-term defensive pairing could be the key for Cardiff's promotion push really clicking into gear. Supporters have debated who should start up front - Yousef Salech or Callum Robinson and who makes up the ideal midfield three. Even the wide positions have been subject to rotation. But increasingly, the back line is where the next big decision lies. Fish’s leadership qualities are growing with every game, and that’s been noticed by fans and team-mates alike. He’s not the loudest voice on the pitch, but he appears to lead through example, reading danger early, stepping in when needed and hitting pinpoint diagonals. He has become a real fan favourite in recent weeks and has is even now being called 'Will Pysgod' in some corners of the fan base (pysgod being Welsh for fish). At a time when Cardiff’s attacking players have rightly taken praise, it’s Fish who has quietly been holding everything together at the other end. And while his thunderous strike at Wrexham finally gave him a moment in the spotlight, his real value has been in the countless interventions, clearances and composed touches that have often gone unnoticed. The only question now is who Barry-Murphy trusts to line up beside him, because Fish’s name is already written in ink on the team sheet. The Bluebirds head coach was full of praise for the defender, whom he believes is improving "rapidly". "He will have seen the benefits of what Championship football and League One football can do for centre-halves in England," Barry-Murphy told Sky Sports after the match. "There is a clear path and so many international players have come through that pathway. "To get so much experience of proper defending in this league. He is a young centre-back who is improving rapidly. "As is our other one, Dylan Lawlor, shepherded by the older ones, Calum Chambers and Gabriel Osho." --- *Follow all of our social channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Bluebirds news. Sign up to our daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here . You can also follow us on social media on our X account and Facebook . Our Cardiff City correspondent Glen Williams is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here , on Instagram , on TikTok and on Facebook .
