Slade targets win over QPR to apply pressure on Sheffield Wednesday

Cardiff boss Russell Slade believes his side have “a mountain to climb” to reach the Championship play-offs after their defeat by Fulham.

Emerson Hyndman’s injury-time goal gave the Whites all three points, and meant Cardiff were unable to take advantage of Sheffield Wednesday’s surprise 4-1 humbling by Bristol City.

Cardiff travel to Hillsborough on 30 April and Slade is keen to beat QPR next weekend to ensure the five-point gap does not increase.

He said: “We’ve got a little bit of a mountain to climb, no doubt about that, but it’s certainly not impossible.

“We will keep going. All we can control is what’s in front of us and next week it’s QPR – let’s see what the situation is after that game.

“[We will] try and get a win next week and take some confidence into the Sheffield Wednesday game. We want it to be a huge game.”

Slade felt his side deserved a draw from their trip to Craven Cottage but defended his decision to throw on an extra striker at 1-1.

He said: “We took a few risks late on because we wanted to get the three points.

“But when you do that you leave yourself open a little bit and they’ve scored as a result of a corner, where we’ve not defended well enough.”