"They strung five men across midfield and it was difficult to break them down but they are fighting for their lives and we were not as free-flowing and fluent as we can be.
"We probably had the better chances but sometimes didn't do the right thing.
"It was a good victory for us as I demanded the three points today and the players had responded.
"We have defended well against some very good players but while there was only one goal in it there was always hope for them."
While Cardiff are still looking up the table it's a different story for Southampton. The Saints are in a relegation battle.
"That was a missed opportunity for us as I thought we could come here and win," said Saints boss Nigel Pearson.
"I have a lot of positives to take out of this game and can look forward to our next match with a little more confidence but we have to take our chances and cannot make any excuses for today's defeat."