Riza hopes to lift Cardiff with touchline return

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza hopes his return to the touchline can help instigate an upturn in form for his team.

Riza has had to watch the Bluebirds' past three games from the stands following his red card towards the end of last month's 3-0 win over Swansea City.

Having been on an eight-match unbeaten run, Cardiff have not fared so well since Riza's touchline ban, with a 7-0 thrashing at Leeds and Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at Portsmouth coming either side of last weekend's FA Cup win at Stoke on penalties.

The loss to relegation rivals Pompey was the third and final match of Riza's suspension, and he will return to the dugout on Saturday when Cardiff host Bristol City.

When he was asked if his return to the touchline might help his team rediscover their winning touch, Riza told BBC Radio Wales: "I'd like to think so. I hope so.

"It's been hard up there for three games but the boys, the coaches, have been brilliant while I've been away. It's my fault – I acknowledge that. We've got Bristol City at home on Saturday and we need to pick up points."

Defeat at Portsmouth saw Cardiff slip to 20th in the Championship table, where they are now only two points clear of the relegation zone.

"I told my players we can do better, we can play better than that," Riza added.

"Now we've made it hard work for ourselves again. Now we've got to go back with our tails between our legs and get ready for the game on Saturday."