This was a big win for Cardiff City. It is only getting bigger, too.
Perhaps it would have been a bit much to expect a sense of perspective in the south of Wales last night given its denizens were left skelly-eyed by the sight of Manchester City being brought to their knees on their first visit to the Cardiff City Stadium this season.
The pulsating victory delivered the sort of still images which will not be forgotten in a hurry; Aron Gunnarsson thumping in an equaliser on the hour and Fraizer Campbell first making it 2-1 with a leap and header, then 3-1 with another. City will ask why the striker was able to get on the end of two corners so easily - and why feted goalkeeper Joe Hart was so hapless in dealing with the first one, in particular - but the home support sounded more inclined to speculate as to where they will be come the end of campaign.
There was a temptation to ask more precisely about where Campbell will be, too. Malky Mackay, the Cardiff manager, was willing to opine that his striker would be back in the England set-up. It seemed a bold claim since Campbell is still finding his feet again in the Barclays Premier League, and a club which will appear unfashionable to Roy Hodgson.
Still, the fervour he ignited after leaping above Pablo Zabaleta to nod in his second goal allowed that all to be forgotten temporarily. "He worked hard over the summer and I now think I have a player there who has had an England cap and, over the piece, I think could force his way back into that squad if he keeps his head down and keeps working and playing like that against top, top players," said Mackay.
"When the goals went in it was something quite incredible. The passion the people have got for this club showed when the goals went in."
That had been interrupted, if not quelled, by two goals from City - Edin Dzeko blasting in an opener after 52 minutes and Alvaro Negredo turning in a late consolation - but Manuel Pellegrini was more concerned with the goals his side conceded. "Defending set-pieces is the duty of all the team, not just the defenders and the goalkeeper," said the City manager. "It is too important an area."
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