One step at a time, says Cardiff boss

CARDIFF City manager Neil Harris says he is not thinking beyond tomorrow’s Championship playoff first leg at home to Fulham despite promotion to the Premier League being the big prize on offer.

A final date at Wembley on Tuesday, August 4, against either Brentford or South Wales rivals Swansea is on offer for the winners of the tie, but Harris says he is taking one step at a time.

“I’ve talked a lot about calmness and focus,” he said. “One step at a time.

“Not overthinking things or putting pressure on my players. I want them to enjoy it and embrace the occasions the playoffs bring.

“You have to approach them like cup games. That’s why I enjoy them so much.”

Tomorrow’s match will be followed by a second leg at Craven Cottage on Thursday, and the Cardiff boss says his side will be underdogs over the two games against a Fulham side that finished just above them in fourth place.

He stressed: “We come into this a little bit as an underdog, certainly against Fulham. That’s why we can enjoy it and play without fear.

“Fulham is a monumental task for us over two fixtures. A very good side and a real challenge.

“We are playing well individually and collectively. I have huge faith.”

Cardiff’s fifth-place finish – after being 14th when Harris took over – is just the start, he said.

He added: “An achievement to get to the play-offs? Yes I do see that achievement for the group to get there.

“We’ve had to work extremely hard, as the other three clubs have, in the second half of the season to push into those playoffs.

“To come fifth is an achievement, but it’s not the success that we want as an end goal.

“We want our end goal to be a play-off final and victory in that.”