Cardiff City began the 2012-13 season with considerable investment from their Malaysian investors, who were targeting promotion to the Premier League.
The investment brought about a change in club colours and a squad refreshed with new signings as the outfit looked to build on their undoubted potential.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Bluebirds have fared during the opening months of the season.
August
Cardiff were dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Northampton Town but they recovered to open their Championship campaign with a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town.
A goalless draw followed at Brighton & Hove Albion before City concluded the month with a 4-2 defeat at Bristol City.
September
The Bluebirds returned to winning ways at the start of September as Peter Whittingham scored a hat-trick in a 3-1 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Victories against Leeds United and Millwall followed before they were brought back down to earth by a resurgent Crystal Palace side, who defeated Cardiff 3-2.
However, Cardiff ended the month with an emphatic 3-0 win over Blackpool.
October
Mark Hudson scored the winning goal as Cardiff defeated Birmingham City 2-1 for what was their fifth consecutive home success.
The Bluebirds followed that up with a 2-1 win at Ipswich Town before Nottingham Forest condemned Cardiff to a 3-1 defeat at the City Ground.
Cardiff ended the month strongly with back-to-back home wins against Watford and Burnley respectively.
November
The Welsh club's momentum was halted with successive defeats on the road, losing 2-1 to Bolton Wanderers and 5-4 to Charlton Athletic.
However, they hit back with a narrow victory over promotion rivals Hull City before Matthew Connolly scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 success against Middlesbrough.
Cardiff made it three wins in a row away at Barnsley before they concluded the month with a 1-1 draw at Derby County.
December
A late Craig Conway goal earned Cardiff a 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, also achieving the Bluebirds' 10th consecutive home victory.
However, their 100% record at home was ended the following home game when bottom side Peterborough United recorded a surprise 2-1 triumph.
Cardiff returned to form in the following match with a 1-0 win over Leicester City to ensure that they were top of the Championship table on Christmas Day.
They extended their lead to five points on Boxing Day as they came from behind to beat Crystal Palace 2-1.
Darren Plant
