Russell Slade wants Cardiff City players to make sure penultimate day game at Sheffield Wednesday is 'huge'
MONDAY 11 APR 2016
BY PHIL SMITH
Cardiff failed to take advantage of the Owls' drubbing at Ashton Gate and the boss has called on his players to keep the heat on by beating QPR
Russell Slade has urged his players to take control of their own destiny and ensure they are still in the play-off hunt when they travel to Hillsborough on the penultimate day of the season.
The Cardiff manager admitted that the last minute defeat to Fulham was a 'real set-back', but Sheffield Wednesday's shock 4-1 drubbing at Bristol City means that all is not lost.
And he has challenged his players to ensure that they can turn up the heat on Carlos Carvahal's men by getting back on track against QPR at home on Saturday.
He said: “The idea is to make it [Sheff Wed] a huge game, to get a good result and take some confidence into it.
“We've got a home game next week and that's all we can control, what's in front of us.”
Derby's comfortable 4-1 win over Bolton means that a narrow two point gap after last weekend's fixtures has now become seven in as many days.
And the Bluebirds' boss bemoaned a defensive lapse that allowed Scott Parker to equalise within a minute of the interval, setting up a tough second half that his team just couldn't quite see it.
Nevertheless, he remains bullish about his sides chances.
He said: “We've had some real high level performances lately but we didn't quite up to that mark on Saturday.
“We've got a home game next week and that's all we can control, what's in front of us.
“Over the season we've reacted well to losing a game and we need to do that more than ever now.
“Its a good group with good spirit, and we'll work to try and win as many games as we can between now and the end of the season.”
He will be hoping that a tough run of fixtures for Sheffield Wednesday can help his team claw back the now intimidating five point gap.
The Owls' have to face Derby County and Ipswich Town before the Cardiff game, as well as a tie against MK Dons, who are scrapping to try and beat the drop.
Manager Carlos Carvahal, yesterday linked with a summer switch to Swansea City, said his players 'had their head in the clouds' at Ashton Gate.
He said: “It was hard to understand the first half. After the second goal we lost control of the game and Bristol deserved to be three goals up.”
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