Promotion back to the Championship at the first attempt seemed inevitable for much of the campaign, but was sealed in dramatic fashion last Saturday when Exeter City goalkeeper Jack Bycroft scored a 96th-minute equalizer against Stockport County to seal Cardiff’s return.
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The Bluebirds were already five points ahead of third-placed Bradford City on New Year’s Day, and that lead has only continued to grow, now sitting 11 points clear of third-placed Bolton Wanderers.
While Lincoln City won the League One title with a 2-0 victory over Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, Barry-Murphy’s men have also left their mark on the division, losing just eight games all season.
Despite Wednesday’s match offering little tangible to play for in league terms, Barry-Murphy has insisted his team is determined to continue their winning momentum as fans expect.
That is in contrast to Port Vale, who arrive at Cardiff City Stadium knowing that anything short of a win would confirm their relegation to League Two.
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“It’s a new experience for me,” the Irishman said on BBC 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
“Normally I’ve always had something on the line or been fighting at the other end of the table.
“I quickly realized that our club is a huge club and we expect the attendance on Wednesday and Saturday to be huge.
“So I always think that for the fans, if we can keep winning and try to put in really good performances, that’s the best way, so we’re trying to do the best we can to win every game.”
Cardiff come into the competition in good form and are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to seven games.
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Five more points from the remaining matches would see the Bluebirds equal their highest points tally of 90, achieved under Neil Warnock during the 2017-18 Championship season.
In that campaign they finished runners-up to Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team they will face again next season, as Wolves’ relegation to the Championship was confirmed after West Ham United’s draw at Crystal Palace on Monday.
Port Vale, meanwhile, offers a note of caution for hosts. Jon Brady’s team is undefeated in its last four games and has shown resilience during a critical stage of the season.
Their struggles away from home remain evident, however, as the Valiants managed just five road wins in the entire campaign.
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But Port Vale have already shown they can be a tough customer for their top-flight hosts as they look to disrupt the promotion celebrations after frustrating the South Wales side to a goalless draw on the opening day of the season.
Barry-Murphy’s team will be eager to show how much they have progressed since that afternoon and toast promotion in front of their home fans in style.