'Excellent' Ashford deserved start against Watford

Callum Robinson says Cian Ashford fully deserved to start for Cardiff City who ended their run of nine games without victory by winning 2-1 at Watford.

Republic of Ireland international Robinson struck twice at Vicarage Road - the second of which was created by Ashford - as the Bluebirds earned a first away league triumph of the campaign.

Robinson says he spoke with Wales Under-21 attacker Ashford prior to the triumph over the Hornets after his impressive showing off the bench at Oxford United on 26 December.

"He was excellent the other day [against Oxford] when he came on, and he deserved his start," Robinson told BBC Sport Wales.

"There were senior players on the bench and I said to him before the game, 'enjoy the game, and you deserve to be playing'.

"He got that start today and he proved why. Not just the assist, it was an unbelievable assist, but his defensive work today against their left-back, he was bombing on, and that's what keeps you in the team."

Manager Omer Riza heaped praise on Ashford following his performance at Watford, adding that the 20-year-old should be more confident in his abilities.

"We've got a lot of belief in Ash, he's a young lad. He needs to believe in himself a little bit more," Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

"I had no hesitation putting him in there. We had people on the bench today, senior players that could quite easily have played in that game.

"He held the ball up well, he was strong, aggressive, he worked hard, and that's what we needed.

"Everyone needs to be ready to fight for the club."