Craig Bellamy and Heidar Helguson praised by Cardiff manager Malky Mackay

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay lavished praise on Craig Bellamy and Heidar Helguson after the veteran duo inspired the Championship leaders to a resounding 4-1 win over Blackburn at Ewood Park.

Bellamy scored Cardiff's second, while Helguson provided late assists for Lee Mason and Kim Bo-Kyung as the Bluebirds made it five wins in six unbeaten games.

Mackay said: "You can't treat everyone exactly the same in terms of how we train them.

"The 19 and 20-year-olds are trained slightly differently to the 34 and 35-year-olds - I wish it had been like that in my time but it wasn't.

"Craig and Heidar will have a day during the week where they'll go to the pool and do some stretching and not go out on the grass but come 7.45pm on a midweek night and 3pm on a Saturday they show that experience.

"Craig's been out for four weeks this season with a swollen ankle and a couple of weeks with a knock to his knee but I want bravery.

"He shows it every day in training. He wants to train every day and I have to pull him back and say 'no, you're going to the pool today'.

"The work that him and Heidar did for the second goal was incredible - he flicks it on to Heidar, Heidar flicks it back to him and he puts a magnificent finish in.

"They've both got their heart on their sleeves and that's what I like."