Superb Yousef Salech strike rescues Cardiff City point after Nathan Trott howler

Cardiff City had to settle for a point on the road against lowly Leyton Orient.

A Nathan Trott howler handed the hosts an early lead before Yousef Salech netted a brilliant equaliser before the break.

The result leaves Cardiff on 52 points with their advantage over second-placed Lincoln City now four points.

Barry-Murphy made three changes to the side that faced Wigan last time out, with Will Fish, Gabe Osho and Ollie Tanner coming into the starting XI.

The game came on the same day the club were hit with another transfer embargo, with the restriction imposed due to the late submission of accounts.

The Irishman saw four players leave Cardiff City Stadium this week, with youngsters Luey Giles, Will Spiers and Dakarai Mafico all departing on loan, while keeper Jak Alnwick has left for Huddersfield Town in a permanent deal.

The club insist the embargo, which they hope will be lifted by the end of next week, won’t impact their January transfer window plans.

Barry-Murphy will have been frustrated with how his players started at the BetWright Stadium.

It was the hosts who had the first opening of the game. Alfie Lloyd got the better of Ng and his effort was turned behind by Ryan Wintle, before Trott did well to gather the subsequent corner under pressure.

Cardiff’s first chance came on 10 minutes when Salech tried to lob the onrushing Killian Cahill from the edge of the area after a ball over the top from Fish, but the effort was cleared.

Then came a moment Trott won’t want to see again as his one-two with Osho was charged down by Dom Ballard who tapped the ball home to give the hosts the lead.

It was a horror show for the keeper; Cardiff were unsettled and Trott was called into action again to keep Lloyd out at close range.

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