Mark Hudson addresses key issue holding Cardiff City back this season | OneFootball

Cardiff City manager Mark Hudson has suggested his side lack a ‘killer instinct’ which is holding them back from progressing up the Championship table.

The Bluebirds have improved under Hudson defensively but still look blunt in attack, an issue that was present under the previous manager Steve Morison. Despite the signings of Sheyi Ojo, Jaden Philogene, Callum O’Dowda and Callum Robinson, Cardiff are still struggling to create chances and find the back of the net on a regular basis.

They’re currently the league’s lowest scorers, despite Huddersfield Town managing just three goals from open play under Mark Fotheringham and Preston giving them a head start.

It’s led to Hudson suggesting his side need to adopt a more aggressive approach in the final third. Speaking to BBC Sport, Hudson said: “We are creating the opportunities and giving up hardly any.

“That is a platform to build on but we need to find that killer instinct for sure, it’s something we are all aware of.”

Despite the lack of goals and sitting 20th in the Championship, Hudson is still looking at the playoffs as a target this season, something that might seem a stretch given their current plight.

“I’m always looking up, it’s so tight. We’re a couple wins away from being about seventh or eighth so we’ll continue to look up, be positive and put performances in.

“We know we can keep teams out but we have to go put the ball in the net at the other end.”

Cardiff are just two points off the bottom three with Blackpool drawing their last three games, as well as Wigan slowly improving under new manager Kolo Toure despite back-to-back defeats.

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The verdict

It’s an interesting assessment from Hudson and one that is not entirely agreeable.

His side are still failing to convert chances, and the chances they are creating are not clear cut. For example, according to Footy Stats, Cardiff are still rankled relatively low, sitting 14th when it comes to xG created.

Whilst it’s not one of the worst records, their failure to convert opportunities they do create is harming their ability to progress up the table and could well see them in a relegation battle this season.

Whether quality of player needs improving, or Hudson needs additional coaching support remains to be seen, but not addressing the situation Cardiff are currently in is problematic for the Bluebirds boss.