Cardiff City: Bournemouth are the 'yardstick' says Russell Slade

Cardiff City have won only once away from home in the Championship this season

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade says Bournemouth are the "yardstick" for his players following their 5-3 defeat against the Cherries.

Eddie Howe's side were ahead inside 39 seconds through Matt Ritchie as they moved to the top of the Championship.

Cardiff rallied but drop to 11th after the loss and Slade says they will be aiming to follow Bournemouth's lead.

"I will be using them [Bournemouth] as a yardstick because they should be going up this season," he said.

He added: "We were off the pace and behind them for much of it [the match]."

Slade said Cardiff's poor start proved costly and despite their comeback the damage had already been done.

"What I was most disappointed with was the start," he said.

"We were losing within a minute away from home which is a disaster.

"We've caused our own problems in our own half in the first few minutes of the game.

"It was important to cause them a problem in the first five or 10 minutes and not the other way round. That's made it a difficult start for us."

Sean Morrison scored twice in Cardiff's 5-3 defeat at Bournemouth

Ritchie's early goal set Bournemouth on their way before Harry Arter's cool finish doubled the home side's advantage.

Kenwyne Jones pulled a goal back for Cardiff before Marc Pugh scored Bournemouth's third at the end of the first half.

Yann Kermorgant scored a superb free-kick for the hosts in between two Sean Morrison headers, before Callum Wilson rounded David Marshall to seal the win which saw Eddie Howe's side go top of the Championship.

Slade was pleased with his side's second half response but admitted Cardiff did not defend well as a group.

"We showed a bit of character in the second half and it was important to try and get back in the game," Slade added.

"At 3-2 we felt there was something there for us, but we shot ourselves in the foot.

"Every time we threatened to make a game of it we shot ourselves in the foot again.

"I am bitterly disappointed with the goals we've conceded and we need to work harder to reach Bournemouth's level."