MALKY: CLINICAL CLASS FROM CITY
Malky Mackay hailed his professional and clinical squad following the Friday night win over Blackburn Rovers, a result that ensures City stay top no matter what happens this weekend.
“To come up and play here the way we did was pleasing, the way we were clinical in front of goal in front of the magnificent near six hundred travelling fans was something I was delighted with,” he said after the big 4-1 away win at Ewood Park.
“I’m not sure if it’s our best performance of the season, but it’s potentially the best result of the season, in terms of the goals scored and the fact that we were playing a team who had just come down from the Premier League with the size and wealth of the squad that they’ve got.
“I thought we were in total control in the first half. Then we let them score in the early stages of the second half and they had maybe five minutes when they had a little bit of momentum. But after that again we controlled the game and were very clinical in our finishing."
Not only did the starting Cardiff City eleven played well, so too did the players brought on from the bench. They linked up excellently with the players on the pitch as if they’d started the match.
“Both Joe and Bo-Kyung are players I know can come on and make an impact, which from the bench is probably the difference between this year and last year when we had youngsters coming on as substitutes,” Malky said. “This year we have people coming on who can make a real impact. Craig with his fantastic running beyond and the problems he was causing, scoring a fantastic second goal for us and running himself into the ground.
“Then it was time to get some fresh legs on there with Joe - and I felt the same in midfield in terms of taking Craig Noone off. He put a fantastic ball in for the first goal and caused problems throughout, but it was time to take him off and put Kim on, who keeps the ball very well. The whole move between his breaking play up, linking with Heidar who’s run was superb, giving it back to Kim to then score a beautiful goal.
“For us now we have momentum and it’s something we want to keep going as much as possible. There are always going to be tough games coming up, every game is. But at the same time, my boys tonight played really well and won nearly every second ball and at the end of the day we got the result we deserved.”
For Cardiff City, Saturday can be enjoyed without looking too strongly at the results – at least for a day. For Malky it’ll be no different.
“Last weekend it was a case of watching everyone’s points chalking up when we had to wait until the Sunday. Obviously in terms of this match we had to prepare everything a day earlier than everyone, but it’s less of an issue when you win. Saturday will now be a bit more settled than normal!”
