Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut has admitted there is a gap in quality between his team and clubs like Southampton – one that he says he hopes to bridge with new signings in the January transfer window.

The Bluebirds boss was downcast after the Saints eased to a 2-0 win at St. Mary’s, which could have been heavier with better finishing from the home side.

 

“I hope in the January transfer [window] I can get some quality players in and we can push for more,” said Bulut.

 

“This is the difference between the top level and what we currently have. It is small details. 

 

“We’ve played against relegated Premier League teams, they have quality but they show us where we need to go and how we need to work. We’ll look in January to get to that level.”

 

The defeat leaves Cardiff – who were in the play-off places a few short weeks ago – now back in 11th place in the Championship table.

 

Bulut’s side have won just once in their last five matches and taken only four points from a possible 15.

“The first 20 minutes was [what went wrong],” he added.

 

“It was not what I was expecting. After those 20 minutes we woke up but we were already 2-0 down. We were good but not good enough. 

 

“At the end of the first half if we had scored with [Karlan Grant] I think the second half would be very different. 

 

“We have progressed from the start of the season to today perfectly and we will continue to work hard.

Southampton’s former Swansea City manager Russell Martin continued his 100 per cent win record against Cardiff but sawhis club’s promotion position unmoved, with Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds also winning.

 

He added: “I’m really happy. I thought we were good today. “We started the game so well. We should score more goals, that was the only frustration. I thought the lads were incredible in the second half. 

“I watched with so much pride and gratitude for what they were doing.”

 

Michael Duff insists the fact that his Swansea City players scored a 94th minute equaliser against Huddersfield proves they “have not downed tools”.

 

It may appear as a straw being clutched, but without Charlie Patino’s injury-time leveller to earn a 1-1 Championship draw with their fellow strugglers, it would have been much worse for the Swans.

As it is, the manager and his players were booed off at the end following their fifth match without a win and their fifth home game without a victory as well.

 

“The positives were they kept going, the subs impacted the game, we scored in the 94th minute so the lads haven’t downed tools and started blaming everyone else,” said Duff. “To be fair to the supporters, they came with them as well in the second half. Obviously, there’s emotion at the end because it’s frustration.”

 

For Wrexham and Newport County the weekend was all about the FA Cup and the prospect of landing a plum draw in the third round against a Premier League club.

 

Both are still in the draw for round three, although neither gained a day in the limelight against a top club.

Wrexham beat Yeovil 3-0 and will now face a trip to Shrewsbury Town in the first weekend of January.

It’s not a glamour tie, but it’s a winnable one for Wrexham and it will have a strong local rivalry with the towns only 30 miles apart.

 

Newport let in a late goal that allowed Barnet to snatch a 1-1 draw at Rodney Parade that means a replay stands between County and a third round tie at home to non-league Eastleigh.

Manager Graham Coughlan admitted his team were not at their best and that Barnet deserved the chance to fight again.

 

“Barnet were the better team with the ball, they moved it well and we looked very, very tired,” he said.

“I can’t get away from the frustration of having chances to put the game out of reach.