Erol Bulut stunned by passionate support from Cardiff City fans and praises Ollie Tanner after ‘special’ win in South Wales derby

Erol Bulut described his first South Wales derby win as Cardiff City manager as “special” and paid special praise to game-changer Ollie Tanner.

Cardiff won 2-0 against Swansea but in reality the score could have been much higher. Tanner scored in the 71st minute with one of the first touches of the match, also converting the penalty that Aaron Ramsey would score to seal the win.

It was Bulut’s first taste of success in the derby, with fans desperate for a win after four consecutive defeats to their opponents over the past two seasons, and he was delighted with his team’s performance.

“The derby is something else,” he said. “But today’s victory was very important for us. It’s special because it’s a derby. It was a very important win for us.

“We didn’t want to lose points today. It was necessary and we did it. Now we have seven points and I hope that on Tuesday we can continue like this.

“I have played a lot of derbies in my career, as a player and coach, but today I told the players how important this match is. Because I don’t think we’ve won at home in 10 years? Today, you can eliminate 10 years, and that’s it. “This derby is very different. In the last 10 years you don’t have many wins against Swansea. So today is special, for me it’s special because a few days ago I spoke to the fans and talk to me over dinner.” They made it clear to me what it was.”

Tanner was certainly the man who changed the game, providing a moment of real quality with his own goal before bringing down Kristian Pedersen and winning that penalty.

The 21-year-old’s rise has been witnessed in spectacular fashion this season. He was playing in the seventh tier of English football with Lewes FC just over a year ago and just a few months ago endured a miserable loan spell at York City in the National League.

 

However, Bulut saw something in him during pre-season and boy has he reaped the rewards.

“I was also delighted when Ollie Tanner scored and got a penalty. He is a good young player. Right now, if he comes off the bench, he is better than coming on,” Bulut said.

“I said before the season, when we played, that he was very good and I wouldn’t betray him. I said it from the beginning and I was right

“I heard about him that he was unprofessional, that he came from nothing. Last season he wasn’t there, they didn’t want to keep him, we have to respect every coach who has different views.

“But when it was pre-season, I gave everyone a chance to play in pre-season and I saw he had something in him. I’m also left-footed and he’s very good with his left foot. Good shot and he can dribble. He is strong.

“I said before the season, when we played, that he was very good and I wouldn’t betray him. I said it from the beginning and I was right.

“I heard about him that he was unprofessional, that he came from nothing. Last season he wasn’t there, they didn’t want to keep him, we have to respect every coach who has different views.

“But when I have