Cardiff City's passionate head coach Brian Barry-Murphy offered a spirited defense of his team after a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Wycombe Wanderers on New Year's Day, highlighting the squad's determination and creative play.

Despite not securing a victory, Barry-Murphy was effusive in his praise for the team's performance, describing large portions of the match as "exhilarating" and emphasizing the numerous scoring opportunities created during the game.

The result maintained Cardiff's three-point lead at the top of League One, with Barry-Murphy making six strategic changes to keep his squad "fresh and ready" during the demanding festive football period. "I can't really ask any more from the players apart from obviously wanting to score the goals that we feel we deserve," he explained.

One notable return to the starting lineup was defender Gabriel Osho, who impressed the coach after limited playing time since his £1m summer transfer from Auxerre. Barry-Murphy was particularly enthusiastic about Osho's performance, noting "clear signs of what he's going to bring to our team when he's fully fit".

The match saw the return of several players including Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor, Joel Colwill, Alex Robertson, and Omari Kellyman to the Bluebirds' starting XI. Barry-Murphy emphasized the squad's youth and adaptability, stating that they have players capable of performing in multiple positions.

Looking ahead to the upcoming home match against Wigan, the coach remained optimistic and committed to rotating the squad strategically. "We believe in the players so much that we have to reflect that in the teams we pick," he affirmed, showcasing his confidence in Cardiff City's depth and potential.