MALKY THRILLED WITH SQUAD COHESION
Club News
18th August
Malky Mackay is expecting a tough test at the Amex Stadium on Tuesday night as his Cardiff City side visit Brighton & Hove Albion (7.45pm).
City go into the game on the back of a hard fought 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town on Friday with Mark Hudson grabbing the winner in injury time.
"Mark is my captain, he is someone who since my first day here I have looked at and saw the way he goes about his job and his duties both on and off the field as captain and he is exceptional," said the Gaffer. "I will keep pushing him in the areas I think he can improve on, but overall he is someone who has been very consistent for our team and his partnership with Ben Turner has shown that the whole year.
"It (Friday's game against Huddersfield) was a game where we were posed certain problems but as far as the group are concerned I am delighted with the way they have come together.
"Craig's (Bellamy) only been with us for a few days and Heidar not much longer than that. I think people get better and better when they get to train with each other more and play with each other more. It happened last year, we brought in ten new faces and it takes time for them to get to know each other. You do try to fast track that with the amount of training you do and the sessions you do but the longer they know each other the better.
"Overall we got the win, and now we are up and running and looking towards going down to Brighton which will be a tough game, no mistake of that. It was tough there last season. We have a clean bill of health coming out of Friday night and we are looking forward to tomorrow night."
Gus Poyet's Brighton side surprised some critics in their first season back in the Championship last year finishing in a very respectful tenth position - only nine points off a play-off place. Malky believes they have a good chance of a strong season ahead.
"They are a good team; they were very unlucky not to be in there (Play-offs) last year," he continued. "Gus is a year longer in the job with players who have played in this division and know the division and he has strengthened again this summer. I would expect them to be up there or thereabouts."
