Riza deserves more from board and players - Perry

Ex-skipper Jason Perry says the future looks "bleak" for Cardiff City as they lost further ground in their relegation struggle with Saturday's defeat at home to rivals Stoke City.

The result leaves the Welsh club a point below fourth-bottom Derby County and with only one win in their last nine Championship matches.

But former Bluebirds favourite Perry has sympathy for manager Omer Riza who he says has had "no support" from the club's hierarchy since being handed the reins following Erol Bulut's September dismissal.

After a late own-goal gifted Stoke a 1-0 victory at Cardiff City Stadium, Riza admitted he is not certain he will be allowed to take the club through their final four games saying, "I don't know, you've got to ask the board, it's not my place to answer that question".

Speaking on Radio Wales Breakfast programme Perry said: "When you're asking the board of Cardiff City, anything could happen, absolutely anything.

"They could give [the job] to him and give it to him next season. They could get rid of him and bring somebody in. This is the biggest problem - the board above him.

"He's got no support. I do feel he's just left there and on his own so he's just going to have to find a solution. He's going to have to gather the supporters together, he's going to have to gather the players together.

"What we do know is they need points on the board urgently. They've only got four games to do that but it is looking bleak."

Victory was a big step towards survival for the Potters who now have 47 points. Portsmouth have 46 and Hull City 44.

Derby County with 43 - and a much better goal difference than the Welsh side - are in 21st place above the relegation line, while inside the bottom three Cardiff have 42 points and Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle both 40.

"Just looking at the team, they're lacking ideas," added Perry.

"We see the constant change in formations, constant change in personnel and it looks as though Omer RIza is just searching for a formula, a team, a method to win and unfortunately for Cardiff City and their supporters he can't find that solution."

Cardiff visit Sheffield United on Friday, before home matches with Oxford United and West Bromwich Albion. They conclude their season at Norwich on Saturday, 3 May when Perry hopes his old club will still have a chance of survival.

"I think that's the best Cardiff can hope for, just looking at the way they are playing, how results are going.

"That's not an easy game because they have such a big crowd, Norwich, and the players will want to give some sort of performance for their home crowd.

"Last game of the season you're just hoping Cardiff have an opportunity but it was a big defeat against Stoke City on Saturday, a huge defeat, and the players looked deflated and so did the manager.

"But as we speak they are in the Championship, they have four games, they need to group together, they need to find a formula, they need to find a little bit more effort, sad to say, but they have to do it for Cardiff City's future."