The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading which sparked wild scenes in Berkshire
Brian Barry-Murphy admitted he was overcome with relief and pride as Cardiff City finally sealed promotion – and said the club’s supporters made it a day he will never forget.
The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading, with confirmation arriving amid chaotic scenes as news filtered through that Stockport had been held at Exeter.
After weeks of permutations and pressure, the Cardiff boss acknowledged just how difficult it had been to keep focus as the decisive moment edged closer. You can see all the wonderful celebration images from Reading here.
“It’s a huge relief, obviously,” he said. “It’s been an incredible day. To see our supporters, the extraordinary scenes towards the end of the game… we tried to stay focused on the game, but it was difficult!
“Probably in the last four or five minutes it was one that we could enjoy.”
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Even as Cardiff closed in on victory, the noise from the away end – reacting to Exeter City’s incredible equaliser, scored by their goalkeeper no less, against Stockport County – made it impossible to ignore the wider picture.
“I think if you were on the outside looking in you’d probably think that,” he added. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
“But when you’re involved, because you want the players to get what you feel they deserve so badly, you just can’t switch off from it.
“So when Perry (Ng) scored it was a big relief and then to hear the roars when you presumed something was happening was nice.”
But while the result and promotion were the ultimate prizes, Barry-Murphy was keen to highlight the role of Cardiff’s support, including all 3,000-plus of them in Berkshire, admitting he has been taken aback by the connection built in such a short space of time.
“The swell of support we have is incredible for this club,” he said.
“Irrespective of how much you feel you deserve promotion based on how well we’ve played, there’s always an element of wanting to get it done.
“Getting over the line is not easy in professional sport, so to finally do it is incredible for the players and something I’m sure will enable the team and club to grow massively.
“I didn’t have a true appreciation of how big the support was and the nature of the club, but I’ve seen very quickly what it’s like when you get it going.
“You try and give them what they want. There’ll be spells in the season – a couple of weeks back against Blackpool we were booed off – but that can be really beneficial. If they’re not happy, you’re not really doing your job properly.
“It stimulates and motivates me to try and give them what they want.”
READ MORE: All the Cardiff City promotion celebration pictures as players and fans party
With promotion now secured, attention quickly turns to celebrations – something the manager admitted had not been planned in advance for fear of tempting fate. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
“It’s the best way, I think,” he said. “We didn’t really plan anything.
“But I know from a fans’ forum in Aberdare that if we returned there after securing promotion the response would be incredible, so maybe a stop-off there!”
There will also be a chance for a wider celebration when Cardiff return to home soil in midweek in their fixture against Port Vale, with Barry-Murphy determined to ensure supporters get the occasion they deserve.
“Hopefully the supporters get a night where they can celebrate their team,” he said. “I’ll do everything possible to try and make us play well and ensure the players give everything.
“But certainly in the next couple of days, it’s important that we celebrate what has been a magnificent effort by the club.”
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