Mick McCarthy defends himself as fifth straight Cardiff defeat marks bad omen

Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy insists he has not lost the dressing room despite the team's awful run of form.

The Bluebirds lost 1-0 to Reading on Saturday. That was a fifth consecutive defeat for City, who are just three points above the Championship relegation zone.

Despite appearing relatively relaxed when facing questions about his future, McCarthy needs only look at the last time the club were in a similar run.

Last season saw manager Neil Harris sacked after he lost five league games on the spin. He was relived of his duties after a defeat to QPR in January.

Neil Harris was axed as Cardiff boss after losing five straight league games last season

McCarthy was named as his successor and form picked up dramatically, with the club finishing the campaign in 8th place.

Despite the omens not being good for McCarthy ahead of the impending international break, he believes the players are still buying into his methods.

He said: "On Tuesday night everyone started asking me 'have you lost the dressing room?'

"I think that performance (against Reading) shows I certainly haven't.

Mick McCarthy insists he hasn't lost the dressing room

"I think it showed we do get a response and we can play as well as we did."

The obvious questions then arose regarding his future, to which the 62-year-old said: "That decision is not up to me. I just keep coming in, trying to get the best out of the players and the best out of myself.

"Me and TC (Terry Connor, assistant) will continue to do that.

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"Look, I know the question you're asking me, but that's not in my control. I can only control what I do on the football pitch and what the team does.

"I thought it was good today and I was really proud of it. I'm just disappointed with the result.

"So all those other things, that's for other people (to decide), not me."

McCarthy's side fashioned a glut of chances against the Royals but just couldn't convert any and were punished when a former Cardiff man, Junior Hoilett, scored the only goal of the game.

McCarthy added: "I've no idea how we didn't get a result out of it, because it's the best performance we have had in weeks.

"There were 25 goal attempts against two. It's bitterly, bitterly disappointing. But I was really proud of the performance today."

Cardiff's next game is the South Wales derby away at Swansea on October 17.