IT might not have been very pretty but the win at Cardiff City on Sunday was certainly very welcome.

We still weren’t anywhere near fluid enough for my liking but three points is three points. Plus sticking one over Neil Warnock is always something to celebrate isn’t it?

Sean Dyche has always talked of the need to win ugly if need be and we scored our two goals from our two efforts on target.

JBG somehow squeezed a back post header in for the first while Sam Vokes contorted his body in all directions to get the second.

Neither was a classic and both I’d expect the Cardiff keeper to have done better with, although I’m certainly not going to lose any sleep over the shortcomings of the opposition.

The table is definitely looking a bit healthier and with Huddersfield Town the visitors on Saturday to the Turf we have chance to make it look even better before heading into the next international break.

I thought this run of games – Bournemouth, Cardiff and Huddersfield – would be crucial given the start we’d made and seven points from a possible nine would have been acceptable.

Given the woes of David Wagner’s side, anything less than a win at the weekend will feel a little disappointing.

Funny how expectations change on a couple of games isn’t it?

Dyche will have had another full week on the training ground this week and with the international break coming up, I am sure he is really relishing a consistent training schedule, albeit missing those players on duty for their countries.

On the return to league action we play Manchester City away and Chelsea at home before a run of games which sees us visit a much-improved West Ham, travel to Leicester and host struggling Newcastle.

There’s not much in that run which looks much in the way of a banker so we need to take our chances where we can.

Huddersfield at home is one of those chances and if we play with the same intensity as we did against Bournemouth, we should see the Terriers off home with their tale between their legs.

We’re at our best when we can dictate play and for that reason I’d be tempted to throw Steven Defour back into action.

We’re at our best when he’s in the side so it’s a real no-brainer for me.

We’ll have to wait and see if the gaffer agrees…