Mackay: Home leg not the be-all or end-all

Cardiff manager Malky Mackay insists his side's play-off semi-final hopes do not rest on securing a first-leg advantage over West Ham.

The Hammers are the favourites to progress to the Wembley final, having been in the top three for the majority of the season and narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to Southampton. With the Bluebirds hosting the first leg at Cardiff City Stadium there are many who believe the Welsh side will need to establish a lead to take into Monday's return clash at Upton Park if they are to see off Sam Allardyce's charges. But Mackay said: "We have to win the tie. It is not about winning a home game. Will it be cagey? I don't know, I'm not going to second guess how West Ham are going to play. "Each of us have been better away from home so it will be interesting. But it's a 180-minute game of football. Nothing will be decided until 6.15pm on Monday. "When you get to this stage it is about who is the calmest on the day, who gets that bit of luck, but also who tactically gets it right over the 180 minutes. But we are looking forward to it because it's something we've worked towards all season."