Sabri Lamouchi believes Cardiff City's players and their mentality will save the football club from relegation after the Bluebirds picked up their second win in four days.
City had not won a game since November 5 before this week. Now, all of a sudden, they have won two in the space of four days thanks to Romaine Sawyers' injury-time strike which downed Reading at Cardiff City Stadium.
The Bluebirds were dominant throughout, but after Callum Robinson and Sheyi Ojo hit the bar in the second half it seemed they were destined to settle for a point. But that Sawyers goal was so, so important for Cardiff.
The feelgood factor around the stadium was clear for all to see at the full-time whistle and Lamouchi waxed lyrical about his side's display on Friday night.
"The plan was to play like this and take a lot of risk and create a lot," he said after the match. "I think we should have scored before, but to score a few minutes before the end of the game gives you more power, more energy and more emotion.
"It was a crazy game, but we controlled it. We didn't start well the second half, but we gave them some situations, like with Ryan [Allsop] and his bad control. Nothing happened, fortunately for us. So, I'm very happy for the boys and for the fans.
"It's a good moment. We need to enjoy this tonight and have a rest. Because there are three games in six days. It's just crazy. But what a week! I'm happy for the boys. Perfect plan and a perfect game.
"We changed the game. Romaine [Sawyers] scoring, the man of the game, and we are now stronger. We fight together. We create a lot, but we missed the last touch in the box. We deserved to score twice in the first half, maybe more. It's an important victory."
The landscape has changed slightly now. Yes, Cardiff have played two more games than the four sides below them, but they are now five points above the drop zone. It's always better to have points on the board than games in hand, the old adage goes, and Lamouchi has given his most confident assessment yet of Cardiff's survival chances.
"This is an exciting challenge but not an easy challenge," he added. "I said yes to it for two reasons: it's an important club, Cardiff. And for the squad, because I believe in these players and their quality. It's just finding the right way to talk with them and the right way to play. It was the perfect plan in Birmingham and tonight, I am very happy for that.
"I'm really happy. Now I've won away and at home. So now we just need to focus on game after game. Our goal is still to save the club. But with this mentality, all together, we will do it. With this squad and mentality, we will do it.
"Every game in is tough in the Championship. We play four games in March, seven in April. Crazy. We need to get points like tonight and like at Birmingham and we will prepare the next one, Norwich."
READ NEXT:
Romaine Sawyers stunner earns Bluebirds dramatic late victory
Lamouchi reveals star he has 'so much respect' for and new signings already having impact
Star reveals how Sabri Lamouchi 'inspires' them every day and boss makes 'five worse teams' claim
