By Ian Gordon

Peter Whittingham reckons Cardiff have sent out a message that their Championship rivals will fear in the play-offs run-in.

The Bluebirds midfielder’s double helped City thrash a Brighton side that could have gone top on Saturday.

The 4-1 win – with Anthony Pilkington and Lex Immers adding the other goals – made it six games without defeat for Russell Slade’s men.

They are now just four points off the top six with another crucial game at automatic promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Whittingham, 31, said: “This win was a big statement from us. I think the whole league will look at that and see what a huge result it is for Cardiff.

“It was our best performance of the season but we all felt it was coming.

“This was a good result in terms of pegging teams back and now we got to Middlesbrough on Tuesday and its another huge game for us.

“But we go there high having played a good team, in Brighton, off the park, so there is no reason why we cant go there and be high on confidence.

“We are  closer to the play-offs but we have got a couple of big games coming up so we have to take it as it comes and try to get some wins.”

Whittingham is revelling in his switch to the wide left having been for so long City’s playmaker.

And the £350,000 buy from Aston Villa has taken his club goals tally to 88 -one ahead of John Toshack and 1927 FA Cup Final goal hero Hughie Ferguson.

Whittingham added: “Toshack is an absolute legend here and he was a huge player for the football club.

“To go and get anywhere near someone like that is a great achievement but I am only focussing on this season.

“The last couple of years I have been playing just in front of the back four and trying to dictate play.

“It was always going to come to a halt at some stage, but as I say, I am playing on the left now and enjoying it.

“And it might not look like it, but I do enjoy scoring.”
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