RUSSELL TALKS LIONS & LEEDS

Manager looks to the weekend, confident of a reaction

Cardiff City Manager Russell Slade spoke frankly in the wake of City’s 1-0 defeat at Millwall, calling for a tougher mentality heading in to Saturday’s home clash with Leeds United.

The Bluebirds’ slender defeat at the Den came at the end of a game fraught with controversy, not least surrounding the decision to allow the Lions’ goal and not to give City a late penalty.

“We played for 70 minutes in this one, in reality,” said Russ. “When you go a goal down there is a need to be mentally tough and what cost us against Millwall was the immediate spell after that goal.

“David Marshall was bundled over at a set play, but we still should be doing our jobs defensively. Our marking must be tight and the header for the goal was too easy from my point of view.

“The goal gave Millwall a lift, of course, but we started doing things we hadn’t worked on and for 15 minutes our decision-making wasn’t good. Even when you go a goal down it’s important to be mentally tough.

“I think if you look late on, it’s quite clear too that their player’s [Danny Shittu] hand stop Ravel’s cross finding it’s way to Anthony Pilkington who would have had the chance for a tap-in.

“It took a little bit of time to get a reaction after we went behind. We need a reaction against Leeds on Saturday now.”