Best..... Start........EVER!

Like most football fans, for much of the time my heart rules my head when it comes thoughts about how good my team is and what they can achieve. However, in my wildest dreams I couldn't imagine that we would have had this amazing start to the Championship season. 4 games played - 4 games won. 8 goals for, and 1 against. We are one of two teams with a perfect winning record, and sit proudly at the top of the league! Cardiff fans are living in dreamland!

To put things in perspective, Cardiff have never won their first 3 league games in the season, never mind 4. However, I have been a fan of Cardiff and football in general to not get too carried away yet. After all, there are 42 matches left until the end of the season! There will undoubtedly be poor performances and difficult times, but at the moment the fans and players are all enjoying the ride.

NATHANIEL MENDEZ-LAING.

There have been a number of outstanding team performances already this season, but one player deserves a special mention, and that is Nathaniel Mendez-Laing. There was always a feeling that this player had more to come, and had not fulfilled much of his early promise when he began his career at Wolves. He spent a number of loan spells at a series of League 1 clubs, and showed promise for the last couple of seasons at League 1 Rochdale, but only manager Neil Warnock could have predicted the immediate impact he has had at Cardiff. 5 goals from his wide midfield role in the last 4 games is a record that speaks for itself, but it is the relationship between all 3 of Cardiff's front players - Kenneth Zohore and Junior Hoilett as well as Mendez, that has enabled him to do so well.

 Nathaniel Mendez-Laing celebrates the winner against Wolves.

 RESULTS SO FAR:-

BURTON ALBION 0 CARDIFF 1

CARDIFF 2 PORTSMOUTH 1 (after extra time)(EFL Cup).

CARDIFF 3 ASTON VILLA 0

CARDIFF 2 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 CARDIFF 2


BURTON ALBION 0 CARDIFF 1

A large away support followed the team to Burton for the first match of the season, more in hope than expectation. The match was very even in the first half, but a well taken goal by Kenneth Zohore in the 87th minute was good enough to win the game. The statistics say that Cardiff have never been promoted without winning the opening game of the season. Lets hope this win is a good omen.

CARDIFF 2 PORTSMOUTH 1 (EFL Cup).

As is usual in the early stages of this competition, many of the reserves and backup players were given a chance in this game. The first half was poor from both sides, with Portsmouth leading at half time with a Sean Morrison own goal. Cardiff equalised early in the second half following Nathaniel Mendez-Laing's introduction at half time, and probably should have won the game in the scheduled 90 minutes. However, extra time was needed and this was where Cardiff's impressive fitness came into play. The winner was a well taken goal from Greg Halford, but it could easily have been a win by 3 or 4 in extra time.

Junior Hoilett has made an impressive start to the season.

CARDIFF 3 ASTON VILLA 0

This was clearly going to be a big test of Cardiff, against one of the teams expected to get automatic promotion this season. Villa have been spending large amounts of money since their relegation from the Premier League and have spent £80m on players over the last 2 seasons. (Cardiff have spent little more than 5% of that total). But they passed the test with flying colours!

Put simply, Cardiff were magnificent! The 3 front men of Hoilett, Zohore and Mendez tortured the all international Villa defence all afternoon. Experienced former England captain John Terry was all but humiliated as Cardiff ran riot and could have had 4 or 5. but this was not a poor Villa performance - this was an excellent performance from a Cardiff team from front to back. The best day at the Cardiff City stadium for a number of years.

Joe Ralls against Villa - another outstanding performer this season.

CARDIFF 2 SHEFFIELD UNITED 0.

Could they repeat the performance 3 days later against the Blades? Yes they could! Another comfortable performance against a team not up to the standard of Villa, but talented and confident following their promotion from League 1 last season. Sheffield had one or two chances late on, but goals from Sean Morrison and Mendez either side of halftime but Cardiff in control of the game which they won at a canter.

Kenneth Zohore - only one goal but has been the focus of the Bluebirds attack all season.

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 CARDIFF 2

This match featured 2 of the 3 Championship teams with a 100% record after 3 games - and it was Cardiff who were able to maintain their perfect record. Wolves are another team who have spent big, but Cardiff got the result in an evenly matched game.

TRANSFER NEWS - INS and OUTS?

A further addition to the squad last week came in the form of Omar Bogle from Wigan Athletic. Bogle had only signed for Wigan from Grimsby in January 2017, but was unable to help them avoid relegation. It is clear that he is essentially a back up, but is another player who has played well at League 2 and League 1 level and now has a chance to prove himself worthy of the next step up. I expect to see him start in the EFL Cup second round match against Burton this week.

Omar Bogle signs.

The other transfer news is slightly more concerning - that a number of clubs are interested in signing Kenneth Zohore, including Brighton who are newly promoted to the Premier League. I'm pretty sure that he will stay, but there is always a worry that a desperate team will make a huge bid which the club can't turn down. I hope not. There was also news this week that left back Joe Bennett was allowed to talk to Fulham who had offered enough money to trigger his buyout clause. However, Joe refused to go as he is happy at Cardiff. good decision Joe!

There are now 2 more games before the first international break of the season - firstly a home second round EFL cup game against Burton on Tuesday ( where the fringe players will get a chance to shine), and a home game to QPR next Saturday. Exciting times at the Cardiff City Stadium!