MALKY: WORLD CLASS SET-PIECE COSTLY
Manager praises players, despite late Villa sting
Two late goals saw Aston Villa take three Barclays Premier League points at Cardiff City's expense on Saturday afternoon.
That being said, the Bluebirds will have felt hard done by to leave Birmingham empty handed, having arguably been the better of the two sides for much of the game.
Speaking after the final whistle, Manager said: “I'm disappointed for our players because up until the free-kick they looked like they were going to get something out of the game.Malky Mackay
“We had plenty of the ball and we had been starting to cause Aston Villa a few problems. Then with 14 minutes to go when something like that happens it certainly changes the game.
“It is disappointing to lose particularly for the players and the way they played. They are in an away game against the likes of Aston villa, in a big stadium with a good atmosphere and throughout, right up to the first goal, I thought we looked good value.”
Leandro Bacuna's World class free-kick on 76 minutes was key to the way the points fell – a set piece that the Manager commented on frankly.
“The wall was fine; it was a good wall and it jumped,” said Malky.
“We spoke about a couple of free-kicks we had seen over the last few weeks, but the wall was fine, it was just a top-class free-kick.
“At this level that happens. Players at this level can do things like that. They can put the ball in the top corner and that is what happened.
“I thought our back five, our goalkeeper and the back four did well. I thought our centre-halves were immense. The two players they were up against were excellent and I thought they did very well.”
And when asked as to whether Steven Caulker's absence from Roy Hodgson's most recent England squad, Malky confidently responded: “I’ve said to Steven to just keeping playing to a consistent level in the top league and going forward you will have plenty of England caps.
“Whether that is now, in six months time or a year’s time remains to be seen. He’s 21 and he’s captaining a side in the Premier League. If he keeps playing the way he is, there will be plenty of England caps for him.”