Cardiff City: Solskjaer targets instant Premier League return

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is targeting an immediate return to the Premier League following his side's relegation at Newcastle on Saturday.

Solskjaer said he "definitely" wants to stay on as boss and feels the Bluebirds will soon be back in the top flight.

"Before this year we had four seasons at the top of the Championship," Solskjaer said.

"Now we have gone down and taken a step back, next season will be about showing character and bouncing straight back."

The Norwegian, who has picked up only 12 points from 17 league matches since his appointment in January, says he is confident the Welsh club's owner Vincent Tan will stick with him.

"I have a contract," Solskjaer added. "We have had meetings. Of course I am just planning for the next game right now, and then I will be planning forward.

"I always knew it was going to be a tough job but we have stuck at it. We have been unlucky at times, and we have done well at times.

"Against Newcastle, we played really well and created a massive amount of great chances, but we just didn't take them."

Cardiff's defeat at St James' Park was their 21st in 37 Premier League matches this season.

They did not drop into the bottom three until just after Solskjaer took charge but have not been out of the relegation zone since, and are now bottom of the table.

The Bluebirds were relegated with a game to go after they lost at St James' Park and fourth-bottom Sunderland beat Manchester United.

"My players are obviously very disappointed," Solskjaer said. "With the effort they put in against Newcastle, they did not deserve to lose. They are a fantastic bunch who have given everything for the cause, but it was not enough.

"It will not be easy to lift them for the final day. We wanted something to play for in the last game apart from our professional pride to give our supporters a good send off for the summer.

"But this is not the time to reflect on the season. We want to go and do ourselves proud against Chelsea next week."