Neil Warnock hailed Cardiff’s 1-0 victory at Barnsley as their best win of the season.
Callum Paterson’s first goal for the Bluebirds took City back into second spot after Sheffield United crashed to a home defeat by Fulham.
Warnock said the win was a testament to his side’s character – even if he had to have words with them at half-time.
“I thought first half we were so comfortable with the fact we had the wind with us and there was no urgency,” said Warnock.
“I wondered if it was the journey and things like that.
“I was so disappointed at half time, I can’t tell you.
“But we had a few words at half time and we played a lot better second half, we were on the front foot.
“It was difficult conditions but we did a lot better second half
“With the injuries and suspensions we’ve got, we’ve done really well to come up here on a Tuesday night and perform like that.
“Even at the end, I think a lot of teams would have settled for a 0-0 draw, but we kept going.
“We have got the best record of scoring late goals in the league and that shows the character of the lads.
“It’s winning a game when you ain’t playing well, that’s a good sign for me as a manager.
“I think it’s our best result of the season, to come out with a win and three valuable points is as good as it gets.
“That’s what you have got to do away from home. You have to grind these results out if you want to stay up there.
“We quite like where we are and it’s Nottingham Forest next.
“It’s nice to see unfashionable clubs like Cardiff and Sheffield United up there, everybody expects all the big monied people to be flying high.
Paterson was deployed on the right wing with Bruno Manga at right-back with Warnock saying it was to give City a more attacking threat in the air.
The Scottish international was on hand on 83 minutes to open his Bluebirds account with a bundled effort as Barnsley tried to clear Sol Bamba’s shot from a corner.
“I just thought away from home he gives us a bit more height,” added Warnock of Paterson’s position. “They’ve got quite strong centre-halves, Barnsley and with Danny (Ward) I thought they might dominate us a bit more.
“So I thought if we put Pater there we’ve got an outlet that gives us a chance of keeping the ball a little bit more.
“Barnsley did that to us last year. They played balls out to (Marley) Watkins and I think he won everything down that side. I thought we’d just change it with three games in a week as well.
“At the back we had some heroes tonight. I mean Bruno is not a full back but that’s as good as I’ve ever seen a full back play, that.”
