RUSSELL: TAKE MOMENTUM INTO SATURDAY

"Take form to QPR" - The Gaffer rallies his troops

The Bluebirds got their Capital One Cup campaign up and running with a hard fought 1-0 victory over AFC Wimbledon.

Craig Noone followed up his spectacular equaliser on Saturday with a sweetly struck free kick to score the evening’s only goal.

After the final whistle, Cardiff City manager, Russell Slade, offered his post-match thoughts to the assembled press and media.

“It’s always a difficult one that first round of the Capital One Cup,” Russell said. “A lot of Championship clubs make a lot of changes, we made seven or eight tonight, so sometimes you maybe don’t get that fluency that you’re looking for; it was very patchy, but we managed to get the job done and that was what was important.

“It’s all about momentum, this game. I think we have momentum at the minute, from the back end of last season, from the pre-season we’ve had, and I think we’ve got it with us now and that is important.

“You get momentum by working hard. It didn’t come easy – the players created it and we need to keep that going and we need to take that with us into Saturday.

“I’ve had some cracking cup runs and I think you can get great momentum from them. Some will say they are a distraction, but I think they can be a welcome distraction sometimes.”

Craig Noone was again the man to come up with the goods for Cardiff, his curling free kick turning out to be the difference between the two sides. The manager acknowledged that Noone is pushing hard for a starting berth.

“I’m really pleased with his contribution - a fantastic goal on Saturday and great free kick tonight – he’s delivering right now," Russell commented. "As a manager you want people to ask questions if they’re not starting and put themselves in the frame for the next game. Nooney’s put a very strong case forward.”

Russell also offered his opinion on Newcastle loanee Sammy Ameobi, who was making his debut, adding: “He still looks like he’s lacking minutes but there were flashes of really good stuff – he clearly has ability and can do things that others can’t – he nearly got himself a goal tonight as well.”