Chris Burke admits Cardiff City will sacrifice pretty football for winning ugly as they enter a critical week in their Championship play-off bid. The Bluebirds face all three of their play-off rivals inside six days next as Cardiff hope to secure a top-six berth.
Fourth-placed Cardiff host sixth-placed Leicester on Tuesday and fifth-placed Swansea in the Welsh derby before going to third-placed Nottingham Forest.
"Now it doesn't matter how you play as it is a results business," said Burke.
The Bluebirds seem to be hitting form at just the right time as Dave Jones' men have won three of their last four league games.
The Welsh club will require such momentum as the crucial next two weeks will define their Championship destiny as Cardiff bid to make amends after last year's play-off heartbreak.
Jones' team final-day disappointment at Sheffield Wednesday last season - as Cardiff lost out on a play-off place due to one-goal difference - should fuel their push for play-off redemption this season.
Cardiff now face their top-six rivals and in-form Reading on Saturday week knowing the Bluebirds Cardiff have beaten a top-six side once - a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion in December.
Burke's hot streak of scoring in three of his last four games has coincided with Cardiff's three wins in their last four matches as the Bluebirds, unlike last season, are showing promotion form.
Burke's battling qualities, never-say-die commitment and ruthless finishing epitomised Cardiff's performance and 2-1 victory at Crystal Palace.
"We didn't play the best we can," conceded Burke.
"But we got the result and showed desire, commitment and the work ethic was fantastic. The defence was also fantastic.
"The next few games are against teams above and around us so we must make sure we approach those games in the right way.
"We've shown we can play well against the top sides.
"Leicester have had fantastic season and we're hungry to beat Swansea after our defeat at their place - but first we show respect to Leicester."
Leicester visit the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday while stuttering Swansea are the visitors on Saturday evening.
Then Jones takes his team to the City Ground where automatic promotion chasing Forest have not lost since September.
Jones is relieved to have "hung in there" throughout their midfield injury crisis.
Now Welsh international Joe Ledley is on the road to recovery and set to follow Stephen McPhail and Gavin Rae back in the team, Jones is ready for the final push.
"We're coming to the final leg of the season," said Bluebirds boss Jones.
"You can be as nice and pretty as you want but you've got to get results."
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport