Russell Slade: Cardiff City manager targeting top-half finish

Conor McAleny's last-minute goal secured a point for Cardiff at Reading

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has called for a strong finish to the campaign and has targeted a top-10 finish in the Championship.

The Bluebirds recovered from conceding a fourth-minute goal as Conor McAleny's late strike secured a point at Reading.

Slade's side moved up to 13th in the table, five points off 10th placed Blackburn with six games left.

"It would be nice if we could get that 10th slot and finish firmly in the top half," Slade said.

"We'd like to finish the season strongly. We're now more consistent and resilient.

"It would show signs of progress and that's what you want to see as manager."

Pavel Pogrebnyak gave Reading an early lead at the Madejski Stadium, but McAleny's last-minute goal levelled the match.

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last four games, having lost only twice in 12 Championship games and host Bolton Wanderers on Easter Monday.

"It's important from my point of view and the players' point of view that we are progressing," Slade said.

"Clearly we can see that now, but we want to keep that momentum going until the end of the season and finish strongly.

"The work ethic over the last three or four games has been terrific and the evidence of that is in three out of those four games we've gone a goal behind.

"But we've come back and either won the game or we've got something out of that game.

"That shows you that the players are well up for it right now."