Quietly assured, Fish is already a fans favourite

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.

- GLEN WILLIAMS Football writer [e-mail]

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.

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 quarterfinals.

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.