RUSS PLEASED WITH THIRD CONSECUTIVE HOME WIN

“I’m pleased. It was a bit of a non-event first half in many ways,” Slade said, talking to the media in the aftermath of the game. “I don’t think anyone expected that in the second half! It was an entertaining game for the right reasons from our point of view.

“The players put a really good shift in – particularly in the second half when we needed to find a little bit more energy, a little bit more intensity. We found that - the front two lead by example I felt, putting the Leeds defence under more pressure. We put the ball into the box a little more regularly and in the end we get a goal.

“It was important to be compact and keep our discipline. On the turnover of the ball we needed to shift it forward quickly into wide areas and in to our front two. We needed to put the ball in the box and in the end we did that. We stuck to our game plan, the first goal a great header by Bruno. It got us going and in the end we could have added to that tally.”

City displayed impressive performance levels across the park. The eleven men on the pitch impressed fans with their industrious work rate. Slade spoke of the ability of his players to grab a goal, saying: “Our centre backs have the size, the technique and the ability to get a goal from a set play. [Morrison] is useful when you’ve got your centre backs up for a free-kick or a corner - we know Morrison can score because he has a track record. Bruno is a threat as well from those situations.

When asked about the third goal that put Cardiff out of reach, Slade explained, “one ball forward and Kenwyne made it his – I’m delighted for him. I wouldn’t want to be in that mix-up personally! Le Fondre will keep going into those areas that you want him to go in and eventually he will get his goals; he made a lot of great runs.

“Pilkington was ill – he was struggling after thirty minutes. He managed to keep going until half-time but he was feeling very poorly so we dragged him off.

“Macheda is a confidence boy. He needs a run of games to get the best out of him. We encourage him to try and be a little stronger when the ball is played into him but he has that extra gear to glide past people, good feet and he can finish. There are some really good qualities to his game – and don’t forget, he is only twenty-three; he is still a learner. The good thing is he takes things on board.

“The one negative is that we didn’t keep a clean sheet. We will get one. It’s a great start. We need to address our away form and pick up points away from home. It’s a very fine line in this league between winning, drawing and losing. All teams are capable of victory on their day. My philosophy will be to win the next two games.”