Play-off specialist Malky Mackay is preparing for the biggest test of his managerial career.
After three seasons managing in the Championship the former Celt faces upto Sam Allerdyce in the search for an £80m ticket to the Premiership.
Cardiff and West Ham both won away from home when they faced each other in the campaign just ended with Mackay expecting their play-off semi-final to go the distance back to Upton Park on Monday.
“We have to win the tie, it’s not about winning a home game,” the Cardif boss warned ahead of tonight’s home leg.
“Will it be cagey?
I don’t know, I’m not going to second guess how West Ham are going to play.
“Each of us have been better away from home so it will be interesting. But it’s a 180-minute game of football. Nothing will be decided until 6.15pm on Monday.
“When you get to this stage it is about who is the calmest on the day, who gets that bit of luck, but also who tactically gets it right over the 180 minutes.
“But we are looking forward to it because it’s something we’ve worked towards all season.”
As a player Mackay won promotion through the play-off’s with Norwich City, West Ham and Watford in 2004,2005 and 2006.
Birmingham and Blackpool meet in the other semi-final with the final at Wembley on Saturday May 19.
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