Malky Mackay calls for Cardiff City calmness

Malky Mackay has urged his Cardiff City side to keep cool as the Bluebirds bid to revive their stuttering Championship play-off push against Coventry City.

Cardiff have won just once in their last six league games and have failed to score in four of those but host a team without an away win all season.

The Welsh side will move into the play-off zone and up to fourth with a win over struggling Coventry on Tuesday.

"It's a case of being calm and a little bit patient," said Cardiff boss Mackay.

"If it takes until the last five minutes, then it will take that long.

"But if a team defend resolutely and put men behind the ball, you have to be patient and prize an opening."

Coventry visit the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday without a win over the Bluebirds in eight meetings and hoping for their first away victory since beating Portsmouth on 12 April, 2011.

Andy Thorn's side are in the relegation zone and two points adrift of safety having won just four points on the road this season while the Sky Blues are the Championship's lowest-scorers with 31 goals.

Cardiff's bid for a third successive end-of-season play-off appearance has faltered since Mackay's men qualified for the Carling Cup final, losing to Liverpool on penalties at Wembley.

The eighth-placed Bluebirds have only won twice in 11 games since securing their Wembley place, beating Crystal Palace in January's League Cup semi-final, and Mackay admits their failure to score in four of their last six league games is a "concern."

"The fact we haven't scored is something we're obviously disappointed with," said Mackay.

"In general goals hard to come by as we have scored in both of our last two away games.

"It is probably not because the lack of shots but there are always things we are constantly trying to tweak.

"Things are highlighted if you're not winning and not scoring goals but there's a stat that we've scored the most set-pieces in the division and I've got to be delighted about that."