Three points stay this side of the seven

There were always going to be a large number changes from the team that played at Oxford United in the Carling cup midweek. Therefore, when the team was announced it was no surprise to anyone it was a carbon copy of the winning West Ham starting line up. Even down to the bench.

Marshall

McNaughton Hudson Gerrard Taylor

Whittingham Cowie Conway Gunnarsson

Miller Earnshaw

Bench - Heaton Quinn Gestede Parkin Mason

In the Cardiff sunshine, the home fans were hoping for a win and the newest manager was hoping for a display to cement a bound with the fans. Everyone got what they wanted, but for the poor Bristol City fan who got on their tractors and headed home pointless and frustrated.

What can one say 3-0 at halftime top of the league with the chanting, "we are top of the league" doing the rounds of the stadium albeit it is August, but it is a fact. Poor David James ex-England number one had to put up with a stream of taunting David James with "England's number one".

Mackay was forced to make an early change when midfielder Gunnarsson picked up an injury and sent on Mason who can play midfield or up front. Soon after the home team were one up, thanks to defender Hudson who from close in headed the ball into the net and sent Cardiff fans wild.It could have been the smell of blood, but the Bluebirds began to pile on the pressure and it was soon to pay off.

Cardiff soon found themselves two goals up when midfielder/winger Craig Conway fired home the ball from just outside the area into the bottom right corner of the visitors' goal Cardiff 2-0 up. The goal instigated mass celebrations in the stadium expect for one small part.

The score line was moving along nicely when up step returning hero Earnshaw to score is first Cardiff City goal since leaving the club back in August 2004 in the Carling Cup against Kidderminster with his last league goal a few weeks earlier. It was a trademark Earnie goal from close in to make it 3-0 and the fans saw his trademark somersault celebration.

Cardiff started of the second were they left the first put on the pressure, but slowly Bristol City were trying to coming back into the game.With around 20 minutes to go in the game Cardiff made a change with goal scorer Earnshaw making way for Gestede. The fans give the striker a rousing send off.

I would say against the run of play Bristol was lucky to pull one back, but Cardiff was nearly restore the three-goal lead only for the goal to be called offside. Cardiff played attractive football pasting the ball around Mason was winning the plaudits of the fans and was right made 'Man of the Match'.

After three goals in the first half, the second felt like a bit of a dump squib.The crowd at the CCS today was a healthy 22,639.