How worried should Cardiff be about wasteful finishing?

If football matches were decided on chances created alone, Cardiff City would be among the Championship's early contenders.

In seven league games, the Bluebirds have registered 121 shots, at an average of 6.4 efforts on target per 90 minutes - the most of any team in the division.

Only league leaders West Ham (16.1) and Norwich City (13.4) have a higher rate of expected goals (xG) - a metric used to measure chance quality - than Cardiff (12.7).

Unfortunately for Brian Barry-Murphy, it is taking your chances that wins football matches, and no Championship team has been more wasteful than his side.

Cardiff have found the net just seven times in the league so far, meaning they are underperforming their xG rate by 5.7 goals.

A look at the expected points (xPTS) table - which is measured by comparing xG for and against - has Cardiff up in eighth on 11 points.

But in reality, the Welsh club are hovering just above the drop zone with only four points to their name, and are still awaiting their first league win of the campaign.

For many, Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Bolton will have felt like a microcosm of the Bluebirds' season.

Despite 17 shots, with 10 on target, they left with nothing as Thierry Gale struck a late 90th-minute sucker punch, condemning them to another away defeat.

"They got the ball forward quickly, and we created enough chances to win many games - but we didn't take them," said a downbeat Barry-Murphy.

"If we had drawn 0-0, I would have been disappointed, but to lose the game is even more [disappointing].

"The players have a deep belief in how we play. It means a lot to them, and we know we have to win. If we keep creating the chances that we are, I'm certain we will win.

"I'm not naive. I know we need to win games, and we've got to do it quickly. We believe we are good enough to."

Yousef Salech was Cardiff's main source of goals as they won promotion from League One last season, but the striker has only scored once in the league so far.

Getting the ball into Salech, who previously scored eight goals in his first 20 Championship games during the 2024-25 season, has not been a problem.

But stats say that no player in the second tier has missed more big chances this campaign than the 24-year-old (six), who ranks 18th amongst strikers for shots per 90 minutes (3.1).

Salech has started all but one of the Bluebirds' games, and with backup option Callum Robinson regularly an unused sub, there may be too much reliance on the Dane.

Barry-Murphy is confident that the goals will eventually flow for Salech, who he feels is regularly in the correct position.

"His movement in the box was perfect and the delivery, which we have been working on for some time, was perfect," Barry-Murphy added of his key striker.

"If he keeps getting in those positions, it's inevitable that he will score the goals to fire us to victories."

Salech, who has hit three goals in the EFL Cup, thought he had found the net in the second half, only for Bolton keeper Gavin Bazunu to produce a fine close-range stop.

Former Wales forward Nathan Blake watched Cardiff's wasteful performance for BBC Radio Wales, and feels the number nine is low on confidence.

"Looking at the way Cardiff play, there is nothing wrong with it. Actually, the way that they play is excellent," he said immediately after the game.

"At this moment in time, they seem to have a lack of confidence in that final third. Everything is soft and timid.

"There doesn't seem to be any ruthlessness. Instead, there seems to be anxiety and Salech, who I really like, seems to be lacking confidence.

"Cardiff have to keep doing what they are doing, but they need a ruthless streak in the final third, or they will find themselves in trouble."

As Barry-Murphy and Blake pointed out, Cardiff will prefer to waste chances than create nothing at all, but the balance only matters if you score.

The Bluebirds will be desperate to record a first league win of the season when they host Charlton Athletic on Saturday, 19 September (12:30 BST), in the final game before the international break.

Nathan Jones' side are one of a handful of teams to score fewer goals than Cardiff this season, and will arrive in the Welsh capital after three goalless outings.

"You have to be aware of it, and you have to accept it. The most important thing for me is that we have a totally united dressing room," said Barry-Murphy.

"There is an understanding that if we repeat and improve on the performance today, that will allow us to win games.

"I'm very confident in what we can do this season, and that confidence has only increased, despite where we are in the table."