Slade targets recruitment drive

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The Cardiff boss saw his side sign off the campaign with a 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday and is already plotting to strengthen his squad this summer.

With the right additions, he believes Cardiff can push themselves further up the Championship table next season – and hopes he will be given the chance to make that happen.

“We have a growing unity and togetherness within this group, we want to maintain that and also kick on and strengthen the squad in the summer,” said Slade.

“Hopefully we will get the financial backing to do that, so that we can build again next season.

“Forest are in a similar position. I am sure they will be looking to build on what they have done, having made a flying start when Dougie (Freedman, manager) first came into the club.”

Cardiff triumphed thanks to first-half goals from Joe Ralls and Eoin Doyle, with Forest only pulling one back in injury time through Dexter Blackstock after the 76th-minute sending-off of keeper Cardiff David Marshall for a head-butt on Jamaal Lascelles.

“It was a very good win and a very good performance, we moved the ball well, which we have done away from home – and the fact that the pressure was off us might have helped,” said Slade.

“I was impressed with our forwards and with the goals that we scored and I thought we had seen the game off, prior to the sending-off.

“I have no complaints about the red card. It was totally out of character for Marshall, the red mist obviously just came down for him.

“Forest rallied in the final 15 minutes after that, particularly as the scoreline from Derby came in, which seemed to lift them. Before that we were comfortable.”

Forest’s rivals were beaten 3-0 by Reading at the iPro Stadium.

Freedman felt his side had given themselves too much work to do as they found themselves two goals down after 24 minutes.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and we have a lot of work to do over the summer,” said Freedman. “Analysing this game, we gave ourselves too much work to do in that first half-hour.

“I want to thank fans for their support, because their backing gave us some urgency and momentum in the final 20 minutes, which we needed.

“We had the chances to get something, we did not put those away – but the most disappointing thing was for us to go 2-0 down so early in the game.

“I felt they hit us on the counter-attack. We were not well enough organised and those two goals gave us a mountain to climb. We have to learn from that.”