Fish backs Lawlor to reach top as Cardiff eye momentum

Dylan Lawlor has got what it takes to reach the top, according to his Cardiff City centre-back partner Will Fish, who has helped the Bluebirds to their unbeaten start in League One.

Lawlor has been one of the success stories of the season for Brian Barry-Murphy's impressive promotion-chasers.

The 19-year-old's form earned him a first Wales cap and plaudits from plenty of former players.

Now fellow defender Fish has also heaped praise on Lawlor after their time together in a Bluebirds backline that has already kept five clean sheets.

"Dyl's got everything to go to the top," said Fish, a Manchester United youth graduate who arrived in south Wales last year.

"I think he just needs to get games under his belt and put himself out there, but at the minute he's been fantastic.

"I can't say a bad word about him and it's nice to play next to him."

Fish and Lawlor have featured in all seven of Cardiff's League One fixtures, dropping just four points to sit top of the table as they welcome second-placed Bradford City on Saturday (15:00 BST).

The only goals conceded have come from the spot, with Stockport's opener last weekend the first shipped since the opening day win over Peterborough.

At 22-year-old admits he already feels like the experienced man at the back for the Bluebirds, who also have 18-year-old Ronan Kpakio featuring in defence.

But having also impressed himself, Fish is also looking to build on a promising start to the campaign, adding: "I've tried to buy into what this new manager wants with his way of playing and the aggression he wants on the pitch.

"And I'm quite happy with myself at the minute, but I don't want to get carried away. There's a lot of strong competition in this position now, so I'm just trying to do the best I can.

"I've still not played loads of games for Cardiff – and not as many as I wanted to when I first came - but I think I'm going in the right direction now."

Fish says with new signing Gabriel Osho and club captain Callum Chambers also vying for spots, competition for places will be key for Cardiff as they look to continue their eye-catching start.

But ahead of the top-of-the-table encounter against the Bantams on Saturday, Fish added: "We can't get carried away. Everyone knows the importance; we've got off to a great start, and so have they and the stadium will be rocking, but it's not going to define our season.

"We want to keep the momentum going with wins and clean sheets, but we can't get carried away."