Saturday 18 October 2014 16:07, UK
Russell Slade admitted it had been worth the wait to take charge of Cardiff after kicking off his reign with a 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest.
Legal discussions with former club Leyton Orient and the two-week international break meant the 54-year-old's debut as Bluebirds manager has been delayed by almost a month.
But he got under way in fine style as first-half goals from Federico Macheda and Peter Whittingham ended Forest's unbeaten start to the Sky Bet Championship season.
Britt Assombalonga briefly gave the visitors hope of salvaging a point, but it was not to be.
The result will appease the section of Cardiff fans unimpressed by Slade's appointment, as well as reviving their flagging promotion hopes.
"It was worth the wait. It has been frustrating, and there was also the frustration of not having eight players over the last two weeks due to the international break,'' said the Cardiff boss.
"But the players worked exceptionally hard. I hope people saw a bit of a difference today and a bit of a structure and a game plan which we can develop going forward.
"The first half was really pleasing. We looked a threat going forward, we created a few opportunities and we were nice and compact without the ball.
"We hung on in there well during the last few minutes, which were a bit scary, and it is a great result for the football club.''
Slade also revealed he had received a post-match message of congratulation from Cardiff owner Vincent Tan.
"Yes, he has been in touch with me. He rang me straight after the game, he watched it on television,'' said Slade.
"I think he was slightly pleased.''
The game swung on a key 60-second spell leading up to Cardiff's opener.
Former Bluebirds winger Chris Burke skinned Joe Ralls and beat David Marshall, only for his shot to be cleared off the line by Craig Noone.
Cardiff quickly countered with Aron Gunnarsson feeding Macheda for the striker to beat Matty Fryatt and slot low beyond Karl Darlow.
It was the Italian's first league goal for Cardiff, and the home side's lead doubled five minutes later when Whittingham fired in a left-footed effort from 20 yards.
Assombalonga's tap in from Michail Antonio's cross gave Forest hope with two minutes to go, but they could not avoid a first defeat of the season.
Forest manager Stuart Pearce admitted he had been surprised by how poor the visitors had been.
He said: "I am disappointed with the manner of the defeat. We were not at the races today, man for man and collectively we were outfought and gave away a couple of very poor goals.
"There were some half-hearted challenges to stop players and that has not been us this year, and that is probably the thing that disappoints me the most.
"But if you think I am disappointed, then the players are even more disappointed to have seen their unbeaten run ended.
"But that is the nature of this league, if you do not play well enough you come away with nothing, no matter where you are in the table.
"Credit to Cardiff. They did okay but I thought if we had got that first goal we would have won the game 2-0 or 3-0.''
