MARLON PACK:

Bristol City, Neil Warnock said he was surprised he got you, did you want to leave?



MARLON PACK:

"It was one that I was surprised as well if I’m honest.

"It came probably at the right time in my career. I had a long time at Bristol City, plenty of lows and highs.

"I felt it was the right time to move. You have to be ambitious as a player. Cardiff came in for me, it was one you had to weigh up.

"My son could stay in school and in his friendship groups. Watching Cardiff from afar the season before and it was one I couldn’t really turn down."







How important was getting that first home win on Tuesday?


Marlon Pack:

"Yeah, it was vital. We have been scratching our heads as to why we haven’t won at home all season, but with football how it is at the minute, it might be playing a huge part for us.

"The results we had leading up to that weren’t ideal.

"It put pressure on us and we got a good result against a good Barnsley side who have started well this season."

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Pressure to keep performing?



"There’s always pressure at a club like Cardiff.

"You need that pressure, you set the stall really to be competing again."

Six season at Bristol City…



"With the proximity of both clubs, there is a factor in that. I don’t think the fans like each other too much.

"It’s against my former club, former team-mates, Dean Holden, old assistant manager.

"I had a great time at Bristol City, a club I’ll always hold fondly to my heart. When you play these games you want to get one over on friends and former team-mates."

Do you still live towards Bristol?



"I do, yeah. I don’t live too far from the training ground in Cardiff, about 45 minutes. Oldest is settled in school, so it was a commute which made it easier.

"It’ll be interesting to see what reception I come home to."

Dean Holden, what do you make of him in charge?




"I know Deano well, had a good relationship with him there. They have stuck with the system.

"They have got good individuals there.

"Bristol City and the squad they’ve molded together there, they will be looking to push that top six this season."

How challenging have you found the schedule?



"For the first month it wasn’t too bad. But this month we have had to use the squad. It’s been tough.

"The injuries have replicated this tough run of fixtures. Something for the powers that be to look at.

"I don’t know if they are going to change the rules."

Something you would like to see, 5 subs?



"Yes. The more players you can use the better for us, we used our squad well after lockdown.

"I just think with the short period we had off, the short pre-season we had, it would have made more sense."

5 subs, does it break game up too much and give advantage to teams with bigger squads?




"I can see that, where managers were potentially taking advantage of the subs at times. I can see the argument from that, maybe more so from a Premier League level, the gulf of the top sides having such a big squad. Not so much in the Championship.

"I imagine they just want to keep the game as pure as possible. But we are not in usual times, are we?"

How are things different now to when you arrived?




"There has been a bit more intensity and demand from the players, especially from when I first come in.

"Neil Warnock has got his ways and is brilliant with what he does. From the moment i had my first conversation with him he makes me feel at ease at a human level.

"His successes too and were sad when he left.

"The new manager is younger, kind of with a point to prove and with big shoes to fill. But they are two different managers in their own right but have loads of positives.

"I like the coaching element and every time you come across a new manager or coach you try to take bits."

This fixture could define your start?



"I think we’ve not been too far away, being completely honest. We have lacked that bit of a cutting edge.

"We could have won easily, every game, but we could have lost. Turn a couple of those draws into wins. If we can then we will be in a relatively good position."

Your connections, much banter this week?



"None. Nope. Ghosted. My focus is fully on the game, won’t give anything away."

Marlon Pack has been one of the most consistent players this season, if not the most, and will be a shoo-in to start against his old club tomorrow.