Coming into this season, I was ready to give Russell Slade my full backing. The improvements we saw in the back end of last season were enough to win me over and defend him on social media with fellow bluebirds. I find him a likeable character who is doing the job asked of him.
Our movements in the transfer window thus far have done little to inspire me. Sammy Ameobi was brought in from Newcastle, and Semi Ajayi from Arsenal. Neither have made many starts, with Ameobi restricted to appearances off the bench and Ajayi not even in the match day squad. However, Russell Slade has had a minimal budget and is still working to bring players in.
After a promising pre season in Holland and some impressive wins against Watford and Bournemouth on British soil, I was excited and hopeful coming into the new season. I knew the quality of the squad was still there, and after a settled pre season I hoped we would build on last years mid table finish.
The first competitive game of the new season was a tough opener against Fulham, an early kick off t Cardiff City Stadium. I was intrigued to see what line-up Slade would choose after a few experimental selections in pre season.
We were without 1st choice goalkeeper David Marshall through suspension, and arguably that's what cost us three points in the end. Deputy Simon Moore literally dropped a clanger to gift Fulham the lead, but City fought back with a stunning late equaliser from Craig Noone. I was happy with a point given the circumstances, and I certainly wouldn't have wanted to start the season with a defeat.
Our second game was an even tougher trip to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers, a team that had just been relegated after a dismal season in the premier league. City controlled the game, which was nice to see, but were still sloppy in parts and soon found themselves two nil down.
But the travelling bluebirds were incredible and City persisted with a lovely style of play that Slade believed would get us back in the game. He brought on last season's top scorer, Kenwyne Jones for the non-existent Alex Revell, and it made all the difference.
We pulled one back thanks to a cracking header from stand in captain Sean Morison, to set up a nervy last 25 minutes for the home team. City threw everything forward and left themselves venerable at the back. QPR should have killed the game off but Simon Moore redeemed himself from last week's mistake to keep City in the game.
However much the bluebirds huffed and puffed, it looked in vain as QPR clung on to victory. That was until the ball found itself to Cardiff left back Scott Malone. My first thought in the away end was 'don't shoot you idiot', but he defied me to send a dipping shot into the top corner and rescue a point. It sent the City fans into a frenzy!
My first impression of Malone was that he wasn't good enough for City, but his performances so far this season have proved me wrong and he certainly deserves his place in the team.
After our exploits in London, the blue army faced a long trip to Blackburn in search for our first three points of the season. We very nearly got them. A tidy poachers finish from Joe Mason put the bluebirds in front, and for large parts of the first half we dominated proceedings at Ewood Park.
But, as ever with City, we couldn't hold on. Blackburn piled on the pressure and the returning Marshall had a busy second half. Frustratingly, City sat back deeper and deeper and invited attack from the home team. The resistance was finally broken in the 88th minute as Grant Hanley poked home to break City hearts.
This was a game City should have one. It's not good enough to go 0-1 up away from home and not see it through, especially after how well we played in the first half.
Our most recent game was a really tough looking match at home to title favourites Wolves. I feared the worst and honestly didn't think City would get their first win of the season here, but was happy to be proved wrong.
Wolves started the game with all the possession, without threatening the City goal. City looked threatening when they attacked and Kenwyne Jones was providing some great lay-offs for our wingers. City had a goal disallowed through Joe Mason, but just before half time they seized the initiative. Fabio, in for the ill Malone, played a floating ball into the box with Jones brilliantly headed past the on rushing goalkeeper.
Both sides created a minimal amount of chances, but City carved out a few after Sammy Ameobi came on for the injured Jones. In the end, it was Ameobi who made the difference. His pace, strength and dribbling ability scared the Wolves defence and when the ball broke to him from corner, he buried the chance. City won the game 2-0, a fantastic result.
For me, this is a good start to the season. City sit 7th in the league with an unbeaten record in tact. They have shown much improvement from last season and it now seems the fans are starting to get behind Slade at last.
Next up we face a trip to MK Dons in the second round of the cup, before a tasty trip to Nottingham Forest.
