Dave Jones' thoughts so far

Last updated : 23 July 2005 By Michael Morris
After the win at Accrington


"The lads did quite well, but you can't take too much notice of pre-season friendlies. During my time as a manager I've won all of them and had a bad start to the season, and I've lost all of them and had a great start.

"This was part of a fitness regime. The priority is to get the boys fit and this was a good work-out for us.

"I'd be a lot happier if we had got three points. I wasn't really looking for how well people played. This was a fitness session. Don't forget the players have only been back two and a half weeks.

"I don't want the players sharp and flying now. I want them sharp and flying on August 6. The pre-season is all about getting a base right for what is going to be a long campaign."


After City's win at Kilmarnock

'Cardiff City have taken a right old battering over the last few months,' said Jones.

'We have lost players and so much has happened in such a short space of time. But winning games, even during pre-season, doesn't half help your cause.'

'We are knocking the ball about beautifully. There is still a long way to go and our pre-season games are mainly about fitness and getting into the right habits. But not just that, it's been good to see the players settling in as they have.

'At the end of the day winning is a great habit to get into. The players have bought into what we are trying to do and to be fair they have had to. If we are to succeed as a club, everybody must pull together and that's what is happening.'

'We tried two different formations (against Kilmarnock) on the night, starting with 4-4-2 and then switching to 4-3-3 with Toni Koskela screening the back four".

'Then Phil Mulryne went on in the second half and he gives us a different option as well. But in general terms this was the hardest match of our pre-season fixtures so far, played on a good surface. And it was an outstanding test for us at this stage of our preparation.

'The goals were down to teamwork and Cameron Jerome finished well, which will do his confidence the world of good. For the first Jeff Whitley came out of the pack to shut the centre-half down and forced a mistake which gave Cameron the chance to dink the ball over the goalkeeper. The second came from a long ball forward, flicked on and stuck away well.'