Craig Bellamy wants Cardiff to use the likes of Fulham and Wigan as a benchmark as they push for promotion to the top flight. Cardiff are pushing for promotion this season and on-loan striker Bellamy accepts the Welsh side will never have the resources of the bigger club's, but having seen similar sized outfits such as Fulham and Wigan become established in the top flight, Bellamy feels there is cause for optimism.

"It's a big league, it's a tough league," said Bellamy of the Championship. "There's a lot of travelling.

"We don't have the resources of some of the Premiership teams, but our aim is to get to the level of the Fulham's.

"We are never going to get to Manchester City's level, but let's use the likes of Fulham and Wigan as our benchmark.

"We are trying to be the first Welsh club in the Premiership which would be fantastic for the country as a whole."

The Bluebirds lost top spot in the table last weekend after a home defeat by Nottingham Forest.

He added: "We slipped up a little bit against Forest. The Championship will allow that if you are not on the ball, which we weren't all week.

"We didn't train particularly well during the week and it spilled over onto the Saturday. Credit to Forest, they turned us over and they fully deserved it."