Cardiff City overcame rivals Bristol City on Sunday to move four points clear of Aston Villa and just six points behind leaders Wolves in the Championship.

After a tough run over the festive period, Neil Warnock’s side look to have hit form at just the right time now, with his side odds-on with bookmakers to be playing Premier League football next season.

Of course, a lot can change and with games against Derby, Wolves and Aston Villa to come there is the potential for more twists and turns yet.

However, no one can doubt that a truly fantastic February has sent a big message out to the rest of the league. In the past month, the Bluebirds have won five and drawn one of their six games, keeping clean sheets in the last four.

Even the one game they did draw, Millwall away, they were very unfortunate to have a late goal disallowed.

Here at FLW we have decided to look at three things we have discovered about Cardiff in the past month.

It would be easy to say that they know how to grind out wins and have shown character, but the truth is these overachievers have been doing that all season.

What makes the last month much more satisfying for Cardiff fans is that they’ve done it when it mattered.

At the end of January the general feeling was that everyone was playing for second place. Derby and Aston Villa were seen by most as the sides who would grab that automatic position, and maybe even Bristol City, but Cardiff stormed ahead.

The Welsh side have stepped up to the plate and performed consistently. They beat the Robins on Sunday knowing that Villa were just a point behind them, demonstrating the mentality this side have.

When others have faltered, they’ve kicked on and they’ll have Wolves in their sights now.

Neil Warnock is always complaining about something but he must have been delighted with his board for their January transfer dealings.

Gary Madine arrived on deadline day to boost their options up front whilst Jamie Ward, Marko Grujic, Armand Traore and Yanic Wildschut were other notable additions.

The Bluebirds boss needed backing and he got it.

Kenneth Zohore was able to come off the bench to score the winner on Sunday which would’ve been unthinkable this time last year. Furthermore, Matthew Connolly has stepped in and performed superbly in the past two games.

Even with a considerable injury list, Cardiff are able to pick a strong side and they’ll only get better when they return.

Those above Warnock deserve huge credit for that.

Obviously, everyone associated with Cardiff would snap your hand off for second place right now but they have every chance of catching the leaders Wolves, which proves just how good they have been.

The Black Country side have deservedly taken all the plaudits this season but Cardiff are six behind and welcome Wolves to Wales on April 6.

If Cardiff maintain their form up until then, that fixture could have a serious say on where the Championship title ends up.

That seemed impossible just a few weeks ago.

Thoughts, Cardiff fans? Let us know in the comments below.