Malky Mackay insists Cardiff's previous heartaches will not be a factor ahead of Thursday's play-off semi-final first leg against West Ham.
Nothing will be decided on Thursday, says Cardiff boss
Malky Mackay insists Cardiff's previous heartaches will not be a factor ahead of Thursday's play-off semi-final first leg against West Ham.
The Bluebirds lost out to Blackpool in the Championship play-off final at Wembley two seasons ago, before being beaten by Reading at the semi-final stage last term.
Then under the guidance of former boss Dave Jones, Cardiff came to be regarded as a 'nearly team' and suffered the anguish of seeing Welsh rivals Swansea reach the Premier League first.
But with many new players among the ranks, Mackay believes his team can handle the pressure and sees their run to the Carling Cup final earlier this season, where they lost to Liverpool on penalties, as evidence that the disappointments of the past should be forgotten.
In the past
"That's in the past, you have to take the individual games on their own merit," he said.
"Last year losing Craig Bellamy against Reading didn't help and against Blackpool the year before they lost a striker who had got a lot of goals for them just 10 minutes in - Jay Bothroyd.
"And Charlie Adam had one of those days where he put the ball in the top corner from 30 yards.
"That's the kind of thing you need to go for you to win a final. But as far as we're concerned this is a group that has got to a Carling Cup final and taken a club like Liverpool all the way to penalties.
"That shows there's a strength in character here to enable us to handle a two-legged semi-final."
Mackay helped the Hammers to play-off success in 2005 and insists Sam Allardyce's side start as favourites, having finished three places higher.
But the Scot does not believe his Cardiff team must win their home leg if they are to reach Wembley for the second time this season.
"We have to win the tie. It is not about winning a home game," he added.
Cagey
"Will it be cagey? I don't know, I'm not going to second guess how West Ham are going to play.
"Each of us have been better away from home so it will be interesting.
"But it's a 180-minute game of football. Nothing will be decided until 6.15pm on Monday.
"When you get to this stage it is about who is the calmest on the day, who gets that bit of luck, but also who tactically gets it right over the 180 minutes.
"But we are looking forward to it because it's something we've worked towards all season."
