Malky Mackay acknowledged the qualities of Blackpool after Cardiff City's home defeat, but was also clear to the disappointment felt from all concerned after what was a rare bad day at the office.

"We were playing against a good team today, but we should have defended better than that," he said after the game. "We were winning the game with fifteen minutes to go and we were punished. It was our second defeat in seventeen games, but it hurts all the same. It hurts the players also because they know the standards that they've set

"They were some good goals from Blackpool's point of view, but our defending wasn't good enough for each of them and we've certainly played much better than that this season.

"I feel we gifted goals to Blackpool today. We allowed Kevin Phillips the chance to have a go from six yards out after we'd missed two good chances to clear it from the corner. When you give the ball to someone as good as that six yards out then you expect a goal to be conceded.

The next goal we've got possession on the right wing, deep in their half and within three passes it's on the edge of our box. Even then it was a block which he took a swing at - and again, it's a smashing finish. But it was poor defending from our point of view. With the third goal we were trying to press with a few minutes to go."

Despite the frustrations, Malky did have a note of praise to Joe Mason after his second half contribution, saying, "He was very lively when he came on. He affected the game early in the second and also took his goal well."