This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Cardiff City maintained their incredible unbeaten run under Mick McCarthy last night, as they defeated AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

McCarthy has made an excellent impact since arriving in South Wales, and remains unbeaten in his eight games in charge of the Bluebirds.

Six wins on the bounce have seen Cardiff climb into the play-off spots, after a 2-1 win at Bournemouth on Wednesday night.

Sean Morrison and Kieffer Moore fired City in a 2-0 lead heading into the interval, and despite Shane Long pulling a goal back late on, Cardiff held onto their lead to see them leapfrog the Cherries into sixth.

The task will now be for Cardiff to cement their place in the play-off positions and keep up their outstanding run of form under McCarthy. Do we back them to do so? We discuss...

Sam Rourke

I really can in truth.

They have been in superb form ever since Mick McCarthy's arrival with the Irishman clearly getting the best out of what is a talented squad.

We're seeing the likes of Harry Wilson and Josh Murphy play with a freedom that we didn't see all to much under Neil Harris, whilst when you have a striker like Kieffer Moore in your ranks you're going to score goals.

Aden Flint looks in inspired form alongside Curtis Nelson and Sean Morrison so they have a real nice balance, with Will Vaulks keeping things ticking over in the middle of the park.

I fear for Reading and Bournemouth as it stands, they are faltering at the completely wrong time and with the likes of Cardiff and Barnsley pushing hard, I can see them being ousted.

The newly revitalised Bluebirds have every chance now, and I can see them doing it.

Phil Spencer

It would take a brave man to bet against Cardiff City reaching the play-offs on current form.

The Bluebirds have a squad that is more than capable of reaching the top six - something that we saw last term.

With the experience of Mick McCarthy I'd firmly expect the club to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

There's a lot of quality in the Championship this term so reaching the play-offs will be tough, but on recent form I'd certainly back them to pull it off.

Toby Wilding

It will be hard, but not impossible.

The Championship has once again shown us this season that anyone can beat anyone, and Cardiff themselves know that from experience in the past few months that form can change very quicky.

What they do have now however, is momentum both as a squad and for key players, with Kieffer Moore in the goals at the minute, and they do have some winnable games to come in their next few fixtures, which gives them the opportunity to strengthen their position in the top six before things potentially get more challenging.

As a result, I do think they have a decent chance of holding onto a play-off place, but even if they don't quite manage that, it will still have been an excellent effort from the Bluebirds considering where they were when McCarthy first took over.