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Sky Bet Championship: Russell Slade easing into life at Cardiff City

Russell Slade the new manager of Cardiff City salutes the home supporters  during the Sky Bet Championship match between Cardiff and Nottingham Forest
Image: Russell Slade: Happy with life in Cardiff

Russell Slade has not been surprised by the ease with which he has adjusted to the Sky Bet Championship after watching his Cardiff side beat Ipswich 3-1.

The Bluebirds made it two wins from two under the guidance of the former Leyton Orient boss, despite falling behind to Daryl Murphy's strike just before the half-hour mark.

Peter Whittingham's brilliant 30-yard strike quickly levelled matters, before Federico Macheda and Adam Le Fondre, the latter with his first goal for the club, sealed the victory.

There were plenty who doubted Slade's credentials in succeeding Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

But the 54-year-old has not been surprised by how well his first experience of managing in the second tier has gone so far as his side climbed to within three points of the play-off places.

He said: "I'm not surprised at the start I have had, I am not surpassing any expectations I had.

"I never expect to lose a game, but that's just my mentality.

"I never go out to try and nick a result. I am going out there to win.

"I am a football man, I've done 650 games or more as a manager and I know what it's all about.

"It is just two games but it gives us a bit of momentum and the belief in the players is growing.''

Slade was particularly pleased with how his players responded after falling behind to Murphy's goal, during a period of the match when they were being tormented by the guile of Ipswich's on-loan Crystal Palace midfielder Jonathan Williams.

He said: "We did not start the game as well as we did on Saturday and I was disappointed with the goal we gave away, we turned the ball over to them three or four times in quick succession on the edge of their box and did not close down well enough.''

"But I was pleased with the response we got. It was a great goal from Whitts and then in the second half we galvanised ourselves and took control.''

Murphy had beaten David Marshall with an angled drive after Fabio failed to deal with Jonathan Parr's ball down the line.

But Whittingham, who scored a superb goal against Nottingham Forest at the weekend, topped even that effort with a 30-yard thunderbolt into the top corner.

Macheda prodded home from close range from Anthony Pilkington's fierce cross after Ipswich had failed to clear several balls into the box, before Le Fondre sent a left-footed finish in off the post.

It ended the Tractor Boys' eight-match unbeaten run, and left manager Mick McCarthy fuming.

He said: "It was very disappointing. We played well in the first half but I don't know what happened in the second half.

"They could have been playing the circus music out there the way we defended for their goals in the second half.

"For the second goal we did not make the first clearance, the second clearance or the third clearance and it ends up being a shot across the box, the lad sticks his leg out and it goes in.

"It was similar for the third, it was not very good at all. It was comic cuts.''

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