Friday 21 November 2014 23:06, UK
Russell Slade has called on Cardiff to take their sensational home form on the road after they made it five straight victories in front of their own supporters with a 2-1 win over Reading.
An own goal from Alex Pearce was followed by a red card for the centre-back for a foul on former team-mate Adam Le Fondre, allowing Peter Whittingham to keep the Bluebirds' 100 per cent record at Cardiff City Stadium under Russell Slade intact.
Cardiff, who have now climbed into the top half, head to Vicarage Road next Saturday to tackle Watford having not claimed three points away from home since relegation from the top flight.
It is an unusual situation for Slade, whose Leyton Orient side lost just three League One away games in the whole of last season.
"It is something we need to work on and hopefully we can work on that steel and make sure we are nice and strong," he said.
"From my point of view I came from a team who barely lost away from home, so it is something I am not quite used to.
"Before I came here I don't think I had lost in 14 games away from home.
"It is not always about the beautiful game away from home. It is about digging in, putting bodies on the line and creating opportunities as well as on the counter attack."
With a 2-0 lead at the break Cardiff looked likely to cruise to a comfortable win against 10 men, but after a string of missed chances Michael Hector netted a consolation with nine minutes to go.
And Cardiff's failure to keep what would have been their third clean sheet of the season was the only real frustration for Slade.
"I asked for a solid, professional performance and the biggest disappointment is the goal," he said.
"We wanted a clean sheet and to be honest I think we missed two or three really good opportunities to extend our lead."
The title-winning Cardiff side of 2012/13 won 10 straight Championship home games but Slade is not looking any further than the visit of a Rotherham side who beat Slade's Orient in the League One play-off final at Wembley in May.
"It is a 100 per cent record so I cannot ask for more," he added.
"We know it is a cliche but we take every game as it comes at home and prepare in the same manner, and hopefully we get the right result again.
"Who is next up at home? Rotherham. Oh, I'd like to beat them, I have to be honest."
Cardiff were helped on their way by Pearce's second red card of his career two minutes into first-half stoppage time which was handed out despite captain Chris Gunter's claims that Pearce was not the last man.
And while Reading manager Nigel Adkins, whose team have not won away in seven, admits it was a penalty, he believed the Republic of Ireland international should have stayed on the pitch.
Adkins said: "It is a penalty in my eyes but I don't think it is a sending-off.
"It is poor defending for us to get in that position. It is a penalty but the player is running at an angle and we have got a covering player and a goalkeeper who was just about to pounce on it.
"It should have been a penalty and certainly not a red card.
"But the scoreline everyone will see is 2-1 to Cardiff. We came here in a confident mood but after dominating the first half possession we ended up two goals down and a man down."
