By Ioan Thomas
DEFLATED Cardiff City caretaker boss Dean Whitehead says the club needs “freshening up” before the closure of the January transfer window.
Whitehead, in charge following last weekend’s sacking of Mark Hudson, spoke candidly after watching the Bluebirds fall to a first-half Tom Bradshaw strike in a 0-1 defeat to Millwall on Saturday – extending their winless run to 11 matches in all competitions.
The Bluebirds are able to make loan signings and free transfers, with the transfer embargo they were placed under having been partially lifted.
And Whitehead admits they need to do just that.
“Ultimately the squad needs help, we need help,” said Whitehead.
“We need players in to freshen up the building to freshen up the squad and if we can do that then we will.”
When asked about transfers and what areas of the squad need to be invested in, Whitehead discussed the need for a new striker.
He added: “We are very close on one and have got a couple of others things we are looking at.
“We are looking at getting in some strikers. Our priority at the moment is to get people who can score goals.”
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— Ioan Thomas (@ioanthomo) January 21, 2023
Whitehead remains unsure if there is an imminent managerial appointment at the club and uncertain if he will remain in charge for the next game away to Hull.
“I’ve no idea but I’ll do everything I can until I’m told otherwise,” he said.
On the defeat to Millwall, Whitehead said his side’s failings were familiar.
“We have a lot of good play, we get in good areas, but the final pass, the final cross, the final finish has just not been there,” he said.
Welshman Bradshaw’s goal came after he capitalised on a mistake by Cardiff centre-back Cedric Kipre. But Whitehead refused to criticise his defender.
“Cedric has been colossal for us all season but you know a lapse of concentration in that final piece of defending has cost us today and it has changed the game,” he said.
“Millwall can then sit behind the ball and counter-attack so it’s difficult to take in the end.
“Confidence comes with winning games and at the moment we aren’t doing that and it’s a hard job to change that.”