Steve Bruce was pleased to see his side pass what he had labelled an ‘acid test’ with a 3-2 win at Leeds United on Tuesday night but he won’t be getting carried away by the Tigers’ positive start to the season.
Coming from a goal down, City stunned their hosts at Elland Road with goals from Ahmed Elmohamady, Abdoulaye Faye and Robert Koren before a Leeds reply in added time set up a tense finish.
City came through the test, though, and sit fourth in the Championship table with four wins from six games.
“Leeds was the acid test that we wanted,” said Bruce.
“They’re a team that is always going to be up and at you with Neil Warnock in charge and they never give in, as we saw towards the end.
“But after an awful start when we fell behind, the response was great. I wanted us to go and play like we have been doing at home and to do it at Elland Road is terrific.
“However, we’re only six games in and there’s another 40 to go. But if we all stay fit, we get a slice of luck and keep playing the way we are, we’ll be okay.
“The players are full of confidence and some of them are very comfortable on the ball. We’re encouraging them to play. We’re a little bit open at times away from home with three at the back, but we think we’ve got players that can hurt teams.
“On Tuesday night’s evidence, I couldn’t be more pleased with them and I’m really pleased that we’ve come away from Elland Road with a first victory in 20-odd years.
“I think people are pleased with what we’re doing, but it’s up to us to make sure we don’t get too carried away.”
One of City’s star performers on the night was Elmohamady who scored one and created two of City’s goals.
The recent loan signing from Sunderland has impressed in his three appearances so far and Bruce couldn’t be happier with how the right wing-back has settled in at the club.
“He did very well for me (at Sunderland) and I knew he would do very, very well in the Championship,” added the City manager.
“He’s a good lad and he wants to play football. He’s had a good start here and the system suits him, he plays the same position for Egypt and he plays it very well.
“All of the new lads have had good starts to their careers here and long may it continue.”
City will run checks on Koren after the midfielder was withdrawn in the closing minutes at Elland Road, with Bruce saying the Slovenian was ‘a bit tight and sore’ but ‘should be okay’. Seyi Olofinjana, who missed Tuesday night’s win with a hamstring problem, is rated as ‘touch and go’ for Sunday’s trip to Leicester.
Hear more from Steve Bruce as well as reaction from Abdoulaye Faye
here.