RUSSELL: LET'S GET THAT VICTORY

After hitting crucial late goals in the first two League matches of the season, the Bluebirds felt the other edge of the sword on Tuesday night as Grant Hanley equalised for Blackburn Rovers at the death.

Russell Slade spoke to the media and press after the match, admitting that the draw was a bitter pill to swallow following an accomplished first half performance from his men.

“It is three points lost when you get so close,” said the Boss. “I’m gutted for the players tonight. I thought we’d just about seen them off as they came at us strong in the second period for fifteen, twenty minutes.

“They try to wear you down, spinning balls behind you to win throws, free kicks and corners and put you under pressure.

“It looked like we had weathered that though, and that we might even go and get one on the counter attack to level things up. So we’re very disappointed that we didn’t see it out.”

Joe Mason got his 2015/16 account underway with an early opener, and Russell was quick to praise the striker, whilst also lamenting an offside decision given against the City number ten.

“When he went through in the second half, he looks onside,” he continued. “It’s really touch and go, and that would have wrapped the game up – that’s for sure.

“He’s a threat though, isn’t he? He gets in between people, he links us up as well and finds those goal scoring positions. I’m delighted he got his goal tonight because he deserves it.”

Finally, the Gaffer set his sights on Saturday’s visit of Wolverhampton Wanderers, as his side look to continue their unbeaten record, and hopefully secure their first win.

“Blackburn probably wasn’t the best performance out of three matches,” he continued. “But as the away team, to get in front and look like we’d seen the game out at one stage, it was hard to take.
 
“The positive is that two of our three draws have been away from home. We need to be winning our home games and we’ve got to treat it like a fortress to get victories. That will make these points on our away travels very valuable.

“We’ll dust ourselves down – and let’s crack on and get that first win on Saturday against Wolves.”