Cardiff deserved win over Manchester City - Malky Mackay

Manager Malky Mackay says Cardiff City deserved their historic Premier League victory over Manchester City.

The Welsh side secured a 3-2 win over the 2011-12 champions in their first home game back in the English top flight after a 51-year absence.

Mackay, who led the Bluebirds to the Championship title last season, said: "It is our first game in the Premier League... and it's history.

"They had a lot of possession but we were deserved winners."

Cardiff, beaten 2-0 at West Ham in their first Premier League game last weekend, were rated as big underdogs against Manchester City.

But after falling behind to Edin Dzeko's powerful 52nd-minute opener, the Welsh side equalised through Aron Gunnarsson after Joe Hart blocked Fraizer Campbell's shot.

Former Manchester United youngster Campbell then scored twice in eight minutes to put the home side in charge, before substitute Alvaro Negredo scored a second for the visitors.

"The belief we had today, against the best team in the league, is something we can take into next week and the week after," said Mackay. "We deserve to be here."

He added it was important to turn Cardiff City Stadium into a "fortress".

"We won the Championship and we have a fantastic home record, with the most points won at home last year," he said. "We have to make sure Cardiff City is a fortress like we did last year."

The final whistle brought with it scenes of celebration from the packed crowd at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Bluebirds won in the top division for the first time since they were last there in 1962.

"The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic before the game," said Mackay. "To go on and make a performance like that against a team that are going to be up there was something I am very proud of.

"We have the belief we can compete and we did that. We stuck to our game plan and the team were incredibly disciplined.

"We were playing against a top team, a team of world-class players, a team that only lost one game from a winning position last year.

"That shows the character on our behalf to counter them."