MALKY: TERRIERS AWAY POINT A POSITIVE

Club News


The goalless draw at Huddersfield Town added to Cardiff City’s Championship tally on Saturday, the point eventually proving all the more valuable following losses by chasing Leicester and Hull.

drew positives from the physical battle that left one of his players with stitches. First though came his appreciation of the travelling Cardiff City fans on their second consecutive weekend trip to Yorkshire.Malky MackayThe match itself may have lacked constant glamour, but

“Our fans have been exceptional, both at our stadium and on the road,” he said. “I’m delighted that we’ve got such a phenomenal backing, including today for what is a long trip, seeing and hearing nearly two thousand over there in the away stand. Unfortunately we couldn’t send them home with another win to celebrate, but overall it was a positive display on a difficult afternoon.

“It was a tough, uncompromising game, while the run keeps going in that we are undefeated and in terms that it was another clean sheet,playing against a side who are now six unbeaten at home.

“That’s two goals we have let in now in eight games and that is something I very much take on board. You find when you’re the top team people will do anything to get points off you, while as the away side any points earned is a positive in this division.

“Huddersfield should also take a lot of credit for the way they played in what was full-blooded Championship game. They got a lot of bodies in front of the ball, particularly in the second half. It was also a very tricky pitch, probably the worst we’ve played on, but it was the same for both teams of course.

“That being the case, including the fact that they packed midfield and often had ten men behind the ball, it’s a point gained for us. We held a lot of territorial possession and I’m very proud of my players for the discipline and professional calmness they showed. It would have been easy just to get it and kick it, while on another day two or three of the chances we had might have dropped in.”

“We had to be patient and work for our chances. Craig Conway very much exposed them on the one side here, forcing their keeper to save well on one occasion. Craig Bellamy made a beautiful run to get in and sometimes he sticks those in, along with the chance he made for Fraizer Campbell which nearly came off for us.

They had ten men defending at times and it took bravery from us to get it down and keep switching it from side to side and work the openings. There was a period in the second half when I thought we were immense.”

Finally Malky told of Kevin McNaughton’s condition. The long serving defender was on the deck twice in close succession at the end of the first half, the second occasion opening a big gut to the top of his forehead. Despite the strength of contact on both occasions, Malky refused to lay any blame at the Terriers door.

“He showed a lot of bravery again today,” Malky said of Kevin’s contribution. “It was just unlucky, there was nothing malicious. He needed a lot of stitches. It was a full-blooded game, but hopefully he'll be ok in a couple of days.”