Dave Jones hailed an all-round team performance after Cardiff beat Bristol City 3-0 to go top.
Cardiff boss delighted with team ethic after going top
Dave Jones hailed an all-round team performance after his Cardiff side climbed to the top of the Championship with a convincing 3-0 home win against Bristol City.
The Bluebirds took a deserved lead after an entertaining start as Jamie McCombe scored an own goal in the 37th minute.
In-form striker Michael Chopra doubled the hosts' lead on the stroke of half-time before midfielder Gavin Rae wrapped up the three points in the 66th minute.
Although Chopra caught the eye by claiming his seventh goal in four league games, there were many stand-out performances.
Scottish midfielder Chris Burke was superb and laid on Cardiff's last two goals with sublime passes, while striker Jay Bothroyd, centre-half Anthony Gerrard and young full-back Adam Matthews were particularly impressive.
"They did everything we asked off them - and more," said Jones.
Battle
"It was a hard battle, but we controlled the game after a few early scares.
"The running off the ball and picking out the pass was top class. Every single player here did their job.
"They've got some very quick players and we dealt with that admirably. To a man, it was a great performance."
There was a bumper crowd of 20,853 at Cardiff's new stadium to see the Bluebirds go level with Middlesbrough, Newcastle and West Brom on 10 points - but top on goal difference.
"At the moment, the fans are enjoying it and we are enjoying it," Jones added. "There's a lot of games to go but it's nice to be top.
"Michael Chopra is on fire, he's scored seven goals already and he's shown he will get the goals if he gets the supply."
Poor
Bristol City could have gone joint top instead but slip to 10th after their unbeaten start came to an end.
Their best chance came shortly before Cardiff's second goal, when McCombe had a header saved superbly by home keeper David Marshall and Marvin Elliott hit the rebound against a post.
Manager Gary Johnson put the defeat down to his side's inconsistent away form and is determined not to let it detract from a positive start to the season.
"It was one of our poor away days," he said. "We have them now and then.
"We are an honest group and credit to Cardiff, they deserved to win the game.
"It's important to us that we believe we are better than what we produced here.
"It's what you do in disappointment and adversity which is the biggest test. We are not in a bad position in the league.
"It's not doom and gloom for us," Johnson added. "There are games you are going to get beat. We came to a new stadium and it was never going to be easy.
"We had a couple of half chances. We missed a great chance with Marvin Elliott, but we couldn't get anywhere near them to get back in the game after that."
