By Terry Phillips
Brian Murphy is enjoying life with the Bluebirds.
The Irishman is Cardiff City’s new number one goalkeeper, having played in their last two fixtures and kept clean sheet on his home debut in a 1-0 win against Aston Villa.
Manager Neil Warnock has already confirmed his former Swansea and Manchester City ‘keeper will start in Sunday’s FA Cup tie against Fulham at home (11.30am).
“Murph will be in goal against Fulham, but that’s as far as it goes,” said Warnock, hinting broadly that a new goalkeeper will be signed during the current transfer window.
“He has experience and nothing phases him. I’ve told him to let the centre-half deal with balls coming into the penalty area if he can’t get there. Murphy can then get us out of the cart with his saves.
“He’s a good pro who has worked hard and earned his chance.”
Warnock has lost trust in Ben Amos, who could well move on this month, while Ben Wilson was City’s goalkeeping substitute against Villa.
Murphy, 33, was with Warnock at Queens Park Rangers and the Bluebirds’ manager knew exactly what he could add to the team.
“Brilliant, the lads were fantastic in front of me,” said Murphy after Cardiff’s 1-0 win against Villa.
“It was only in the last 25 minutes that I had something to do. Villa have such quality they were always going to come at us.
“Winning at home is a great way to start the new year and we can start looking up the table.
“Full credit to the lads who have been playing all season. They have taken a little bit of stick at times, but to a man they were brilliant against Villa.”
Murphy made a couple of top quality saves during the second half, but admits he was disappointed with his kicking.
Goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson will work with Murphy in training on that and he says: “That was down to a lack of game time, but I’ll be working hard on kicking through the week.”
Waterford-born Murphy played gaelic football, hurling and rugby union as a schoolboy, but turned to football when Manchester City offered him a trial.
Brian Flynn was Swansea manager when Murphy first came to Wales and he made 13 appearances in 2003-04, but was mainly back-up to Willy Gueret.
He made 21 League appearances for Portsmouth last season before making the move to Cardiff City.
Murphy will be joined in Cardiff’s FA Cup squad for the third round home match against Fulham by Rickie Lambert, Jazz Richards, Emyr Huws, Declan John and Stuart O’Keefe.
Three or four of those are likely to start as Warnock continues to assess his group before the next Championship match against Bristol City away on Saturday, January 14 (Noon kick-off).
He has also made it clear there could be ‘three or four’ new signings in before the Severnside derby at Ashton Gate.
“I can’t envisage spending a lot of money. I’ve got three or four targets. I’ve spoken to two or three clubs about them and I’m hoping we can get one or two over the line over the next few weeks.
“We’re close on that Financial Fair Play thing so we might have to lose the odd player going out and, at this moment in time, I don’t know who that will be.
“It all depends who comes in for my players. I hope it’s not one I don’t want to let go.”