The defence often looked shaky and the lack of back-up for Jay Bothroyd was a concern, but nevertheless the side almost always looked capable of out-scoring the opposition.
Indeed, by the end of October the Bluebirds were top of the table and the highest scorers in the Championship with 28 goals from 14 league matches - an average of two goals a game. With the likes of Bothroyd, Chopra, Bellamy and Whittingham in the side, scoring goals didn't look like it would prove to be a problem this season.
However, the goals began to dry up following the defeat at Swansea in early-November. Since then, City have scored just 27 goals in 22 matches - an average of 1.2 goals a game.
City currently stand sixth in the list of the Championship's top scorers. It reads:
69 goals - Leeds United
61 goals - Watford
59 goals - Reading
58 goals - Norwich City
57 goals - QPR
55 goals - Cardiff City
Perhaps surprisingly, City have scored fewer goals this season than at the same stage last season. In 2009/10, the Bluebirds had netted 59 goals after 36 games. The team had the third-best scoring record in the division, behind only West Brom (73 goals) and Newcastle (66 goals).
At present, Jay Bothroyd is in poor form and the rest of the team isn't having much luck in front of goal. Having said that, my firm belief is that systems Dave Jones has been employing of late are simply not getting the best out of what should be a potent attacking force. Michael Chopra is being wasted in wide positions, Craig Bellamy looks like a fish out of water in the centre and Peter Whittingham's goal threat has been blunted by the roles he has been asked to play.
Many of us were rightly concerned about the defence earlier in the season, but since the arrival of Dekel Keinan and the re-introduction of Paul Quinn, things have improved considerably in that department. The defence now effectively picks itself when everyone is fit and available.
What the manager can't seem to get right are the team's midfield and attacking formations. He is trying to employ all of his best footballers in the same side but it isn't working. The right balance just isn't there and consequently the scoring form of players like Bothroyd, Chopra, Bellamy and Whittingham is suffering.
I won't pretend to know what the answer is, but Dave Jones will have to find one quickly because the team's challenge for automatic promotion is likely to peter out if the side doesn't start hitting the back of the net again soon.