Football: After two blank years Brayson's back in goal routine; NOW HE WANTS FOUR IN FOUR.

PAUL BRAYSON goes for his fourth goal in four games for Cardiff City when they launch their home campaign against Blackpool today.

And that would be another giant stride towards salvation for the Geordie striker who endured the torment of two years without a goal before he joined City late last season.

That was the dismal record of the 22-year-old who now smiles ruefully at the memory of what he calls "two wasted seasons" at Reading.

"I guess it was a case of joining the wrong club at the wrong time," said Brayson, who stepped down from his home club Newcastle to move 300 miles south.

"Although Newcastle are the team I supported as a boy, I had to leave because my chances of getting regular first-team football were strictly limited with all the big-name players they kept bringing in.

"Reading seemed a good club to move to. Tommy Burns was their manager but there was a lot of upheaval and unrest at the club. It was hard to feel comfortable. And although my best position is up front, alongside a big target man, I hardly ever got the chance to play there. I spent most of the time in midfield.

"So the fact I went two years without a goal isn't as bad as it might seem. But it got to me. I felt more and more frustrated."

So Brayson jumped at the chance to move across the Severn Bridge - and link up again with manager Billy Ayre.

"I spent a couple of months on loan at Swansea three seasons ago, when Billy was coach under Jan Molby," he said. "I had a lot of respect for his coaching skills so I was delighted to join him again."

In fact, Swansea would have kept him - but they couldn't afford the pounds 175,000 asking price.

But Ayre remembered his talents and was equally pleased to be able to snap him up again.

"People looked at his record at Reading and thought I was mad," said Ayre. "But I remembered Paul's time at Swansea when he scored five goals in 11 games. He's a strong character, as you'd expect from a Geordie, and I was convinced if he got fully fit and we played him in his best role he would score goals for us."

Even though Cardiff went down, Brayson was happy to make his stay at Ninian Park permanent by signing a contract when his initial loan spell was completed.

He added: "I had already seen enough to believe this side has the ability to bounce straight back to the Second Division.

"And it's also a real football city. The fans are as passionate as Newcastle's."

Brayson, who scored in Cardiff's battling 2-1 win at Exeter last weekend to follow goals in each of their last two pre-season games, still dreams of returning to his home-town club one day.

"But I'm settled at Cardiff now. There's a lot of excitement about the place, with Sam Hammam buying the club and Bobby Gould coming in.

"And if I can keep scoring a few goals, I'll be thrilled to help them climb again."