One of the most surprising and pleasing aspects of Cardiff City's start to the season has been the partnership which has been struck up between West Brom loanee Cedric Kipre and his silky defensive partner, Perry Ng.
It would be remiss not to say there were doubts over that pairing at the beginning of the campaign. All the noises from West Brom seemed to suggest that Kipre had a mistake in him, while Ng's lack of height was expected to leave the team vulnerable in the air.
It was a case of weighing up risk and reward from Cardiff's coaching staff, but it's fair to say their bold strategy has paid off and that partnership now looks to be one of the most watertight in the team.
Only five teams have conceded fewer goals (13) than the Bluebirds in the first 13 rounds of the Championship, which is testament to how this new-look defence has gelled.
After Charlie Cresswell overpowered Perry Ng from a corner to score the opener at Millwall, though, old concerns reared their head. But, thankfully for Cardiff, that instance has been an outlier this season.
And Kipre has spoken of how much he is relishing this burgeoning centre-back partnership with Ng and dispelled the myth that his perceived lack of height is a hindrance.
"I love playing with Perry; I like his game and I like the way he plays. As a centre back, he likes to play on the floor and he's always asking for the ball," Kipre said in the Bluebirds match programme last week.
"Defensively as well, he's great. Even though he's not the tallest, he always wins the duels when he goes up in the air, so I don't think it's a problem for him! He's a great defender and we work well together.
"Overall, I think as a team we have been OK defensively, but on some key moments, like corners and set pieces, that's where I think we need to be stronger as a team."
The vastly-changed style of play this term has been able to flourish because of the defenders' boldness with the ball at their feet. It has been so refreshing for City fans to see such a composed and stylish build-up from the back.
Ng himself, who had to fill in at right-back in the win at Wigan Athletic owing to the injury of Mahlon Romeo, has spoken of his delight at how his relationship with Kipre is flourishing.
"This year we've played out well from the back and that has caused teams some problems," Ng said last week. "We've just got to keep doing that and I think if we can continue what we're doing then hopefully we can pick up a few more clean sheets, too, like we did earlier in the season.
"Cedric has been really good to play with since he's come in and I've enjoyed every game alongside him.
"I know what he's going to do on and off the ball and I think we've got a good little partnership going, so long may that continue."
For Kipre, the idea of Cardiff radically changing their style of play was a big pull in him coming here in the first place. If they were still playing the same football as a year ago, it doesn't sound like he would be here at all.
"It's very important," the Ivorian said of the style of play. "That's my game and how I like to play. I'm very glad that we are playing this way and that was one of the reasons I came here back in the summer.
"I think that moving the ball between the defenders to start attacks really does suit me, especially with Perry and Rocky (Ryan Allsop). I think I can show people a lot of my qualities that they haven't really seen before, so it's just perfect for me."
Interim manager Mark Hudson has made a point of praising Kipre since taking the reins, but has also insisted the player needs to produce the goods week in, week out.
It's easy to hark back to what West Brom fans had to say before he came in, indeed our colleagues at the Birmingham Mail warned us he could drop the ball, so to speak, from time to time.
But while we have seen precious little of that in a City shirt so far, Hudson is on Kipre's back about maintaining those concentration levels.
"As soon as I came in I had a little meeting with him," Kipre said of his chat with Hudson.
"He showed me what he was expecting from me and all of the other defenders and we spoke about the way he wants us all to play with the ball.
"He also told me that he wants me to be able to focus for the full 90 minutes. He keeps telling me to stay switched on throughout the game I think this is one of the most important things for a centre back to do."
It's like a little West Brom reunion at Cardiff at the minute. It makes their current plight even more bizarre given the players they have allowed Cardiff to take have largely been excellent. You can read more about that here.
And having his 'big brother' Romaine Sawyers, as well as former baggies frontman Callum Robinson, with him has certainly helped.
"It does help. Even though everyone has been great with me, it's a lot easier having some family faces around when you join," the 25-year-old added.
"I came in when Romaine Sawyers was already here and he has helped me settle into the team. I get on really well with Rom; he's like a big brother to me and I got on well with him at West rom, too.
"I called him before I came to Cardiff and he told me all of the great things about the club. The next day, I came down to sign for the club and re-unite with him. It's been the same with Robbo (Robinson), as well."
READ NEXT
Cardiff City have released the shackles and still have two exciting attacking weapons to return
West Brom plummet as unwanted players shine in Cardiff City shirts amid bonkers decision
