EFL Championship: 5 Things we learned from the weekend's action

Energetic Cardiff City on the front foot

Last term was very much one of consolidation for Welsh outfit Cardiff City, still perhaps recovering from a lengthy Premier League hangover. Whilst their 12th placed finish ensured they were far from the drop, the Bluebirds appeared a long way behind the likes of Brighton and Newcastle United but this term a new approach could render them genuine threats in the chase for promotion.

It was an 87th minute Zohore strike which handed City an opening day win over Burton and little was thought of it; then came a rather intriguing match-up with Aston Villa on Saturday. Neil Warnock's men subjected the Villain's to a 3-0 drubbing and with it made a real statement of intent for the season ahead.

Cardiff's set-up was executed as excellently as it was planned; the home side mounted pressure on Villa from the first whistle.

Through goalscorer Hoilett and Mendez-Laing, Cardiff had great pace on the flanks as well as though the middle with Zohore and Warnock's side used a direct 4-3-3 set-up in which they looked the sharper and fitter of the two and put Villa on the back-foot. Any error by the opposition was gobbled up and used to fuel an attack at the opposing end.