Cardiff City boss Neil Harris opens up on key to success against Leeds United after further enhancing record against Whites

Six months after fighting back from being 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at Elland Road in December, Cardiff condemned Leeds to a first defeat in six games in their first fixture back after the 15-week break in play due to the country's battle against coronavirus.

Marcelo Bielsa's side failed to make the most of a host of chances with Will Vaulks clearing a Luke Ayling header off the line and Patrick Bamford also inadvertently blocking a goalbound shot from his own team-mate Jack Harrison.

Cardiff then took the lead through Junior Hoilett in the 35th minute after a loose pass from Kalvin Phillips and the Bluebirds advantage was eventually doubled by a fierce strike from Robert Glatzel with 19 minutes left - again after Leeds had given away the ball.

Further chances for United then went begging and Cardiff have now taken four points against Leeds this term under a manager in Harris who had an excellent record against the Whites at former club Millwall.

Harris again stated his belief that United were the best team in the division in his post-match press conference which, he said, further fuelled the desire to notch a victory which was reward for sticking to his beliefs.

Assessing what he thought was the key to success against Marcelo Bielsa's side, Harris reasoned: "I think when you are playing against Leeds and you are playing against the top sides you have to appreciate they are going to have the football and you have to appreciate that they are going to make chances.

"Sometimes it's how you stay in games and how you limit those chances to good goal scoring opportunities like we did today.

"I know there were three or four chances and one great save and one blocked on the line but we have had chances as well where we have got into good areas.

"You have to rely on what you believe in and what we are working on on the training pitch in the shape and the organisation and trying to counter attack off that.

"We have done a lot of work in the last few weeks on regaining the ball and counter attacking and we scored both goals from that.

"I have had a pretty decent record against Leeds.

"Up at Elland Road, Leeds were brilliant for 70 minutes and I think Marcelo said afterwards it's probably the best performance while he has been in charge.

"They were great. Yes we were three behind but it could have been more but we did stay in it and we have got players that can change games.

"I know the quality in my squad."

Reflecting on his side's efforts in Sunday's victory - which put Cardiff seventh and within one goal of entering the play-offs - Harris said: "I thought we saw a really strong and committed performance by us.

"Leeds could have been the best opposition for us because naturally you are going to be up for the game.

"I was pumped up for the game because I wanted to beat Leeds, I wanted to beat Marcelo Bielsa because he is the main man.

"And the players were the same, they wanted to impose themselves on the division."

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