Cardiff City

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Rex Features

All football fans love to see a local lad flourishing for their club, and Cardiff City seem to have a homegrown rising star on their hands in the form of Cian Ashford.

The 20-year-old has impressed in the Championship in recent weeks, and the young forward caught the eye with a superbly taken goal in Thursday's 1-0 FA Cup win at Sheffield United.

That was the highlight of a fine all-round display of industrious running and attacking invention which earned Ashford the man of the match award at Bramall Lane.

"Ash is excellent. He listens, he learns, he wants to do well," Cardiff manager Omer Riza told BBC Radio Wales.

"He gets disappointed at times, which is good but bad at times as well because he lets it get to his performance.

"I've said from the start of the season, Cian has got a lot of potential. We all believe in him – he needs to believe in himself more. I'm delighted for him."

Cardiff's captain, Joe Ralls, was similarly impressed.

"He's been brilliant for us, really stepped up. He had a little spell out of the team, he's worked on his game and he's come back with a point to prove," Ralls told Match of the Day.

"That's the real Cian Ashford and he's kicking on now. That was a really well taken goal."

Ralls, Riza and Cardiff's fans may already be aware of Ashford's ability, but he was able to broadcast his skills to a new audience on Thursday as the FA Cup win at Sheffield United was televised live on Match of the Day on BBC One Wales.

Former Wales manager Rob Page – who also played for the Blades as well as the Bluebirds – was one of the pundits pitchside.

"He was the man of the match, he was the standout player," said Page.

"I thought he was brilliant and Cardiff thoroughly deserved the win."

Page will have been aware of Ashford, a Wales Under-21 international, during his time in charge of the national team.

So does he think the Cardiff forward could one day represent his country at senior level?

"He can't worry about what's coming over the next few months," Page said.

"He's got to enjoy this moment. He's got to build on that and keep impressing."

Image source, Rex Features

Cardiff City's FA Cup win at Sheffield United was particularly special for Joe Ralls as the captain celebrated his 400th appearance for the Bluebirds.

The 31-year-old midfielder has spent his entire senior career at Cardiff, making his debut for the club in 2011.

Ralls reached his milestone at Bramall Lane on Thursday, and he was pleased to be able to mark the achievement with a 1-0 victory.

"I'm really proud, massively proud," he told BBC Radio Wales. "I was looking at the young lads in the dressing room and seeing their shirts with their names on for the first time. It doesn't seem that long ago since it was me.

"To reach 400 games for a club that I love – and I've got so many good memories – and to hit that milestone is something I'm really proud of."

Thursday's win was only Cardiff's second in five FA Cup seasons.

The 2008 runners-up now have a fourth-round tie to look forward to on the weekend of 8 February.

"We had some good cup runs a long time ago so it would be nice if we could have another one," said Ralls.

"The boys are really hungry and we're really happy to be in the next round. We've got to keep the momentum going."

Cardiff have endured a testing season in the Championship, where they are second from bottom.

But Ralls is determined to lead his team to safety, and wants to keep racking up the appearances.

"I'm hungry for more. I'm enjoying my football and love being captain of this group," he said.

"It's a pleasure to be playing football with these boys and hopefully I can keep going as long as possible."

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts has described Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman's message to the club's supporters as "a token gesture".

Dalman's message to supporters comes after fans wrote a highly critical open letter to the board raising "serious concerns" about the state of the Championship club.

Cardiff are currently 23rd in the Championship table and Dalman says the club is ready to reshape its squad in the January transfer window to avoid the prospect of relegation to League One.

Speaking on BBC Wales' Feast of Football podcast, ex-Norwich City and Watford player Roberts believes Cardiff should appoint someone with a football background to their board.

"They've come out as a bit of a token gesture I feel," Roberts said.

"It's a bit too late for Mehmet Dalman to come out and he's talking about a relegation battle – I could have told you that a few weeks ago.

"They've got a massive, massive four months in front of them."

Roberts says the situation underlines the lack of communication between Cardiff's board and its fanbase.

"They never speak to the fans," Roberts added.

"They never give them a plan or where the club's heading to, what they want to do, how they want to approach things and what their thoughts are about bringing a new manager into place.

"There's literally zero communication and that hurts football fans. They like to be involved, they like to feel a part of their football club.

"Because at the end of the day it is the fans' football club.

"I think it would be a great shout for the club to get somebody to sit on the board who has played the game, possibly played for the football club.

"But I think it would be a really good shout for them to get a football-minded person on board to guide them in the right direction."

Ian Hunt
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, BBC Sport

Omer Riza's side will be looking to do something no Cardiff team has done in 52 years when they travel to Sheffield United for their FA Cup third-round tie on Thursday (19:00 GMT).

Cardiff's 3-1 win at Bramall Lane in January 1972 is the only time they have beaten the Blades in the competition, having lost more recent cup ties against them in 1999 and 2004.

The class of '72 was full of legendary players who had shocked the mighty Real Madrid in the European Cup Winners' Cup at Ninian Park the previous year, with the likes of Brian Clark, Bobby Woodruff and Gary Bell in the team.

One of the goal scorers in that Sheffield win was club legend Don Murray, a Scottish defender who made more than 400 appearances for the Bluebirds between 1962 and 1975.

"It was a game where I scored one of my few goals for Cardiff - I only scored about three in all my hundreds of games," said Murray, now 78.

"I went up for a corner, it was knocked down and I was stood about six yards out. I had the opportunity to volley it and it flew in.

"It was a real magic moment for me, but the lads took the mickey out of me - 'what are you doing there? Centre halves are not supposed to do that!'"

Murray's fellow defender David Carver and midfielder Woodruff were the other scorers in front of a Bramall Lane crowd of almost 30,000.

"The Sheffield United supporters were always passionate about their football - just like our fans at the old Ninian Park," said Murray.

"The support we had from the Cardiff fans that day was quite something. We played really well, and were delighted to beat them that day."

Cardiff went on to knock out Sunderland in round four that season before losing to eventual FA Cup winners Leeds United in round five.

Murray, who also had spells at Swansea City and Newport County towards the end of his career, still lives in the Cardiff area and attends games occasionally.

He thinks they need to add experience in the transfer window if they are to avoid relegation from the Championship.

"They're going to struggle, I think," said Murray.

"They've had some fairly decent results in the last few games, which I hope can continue.

"When I look at it, they're quite a young side with some promising players there.

"I think to steady and improve things they need three or four experienced and established players to play alongside them."

So what chance do Cardiff have of emulating Murray's team of 72 and knocking United out of the cup on their own turf?

Slim odds, perhaps, given Chris Wilder's promotion-chasing side have not lost at home all season.

"There's always a chance. There's a possibility for them," added Murray.

"I wouldn't be totally confident, but stranger things have happened."

Listen to more with Don Murray during Radio Wales Sport coverage of the game, from 18:30 on BBC Radio Wales and BBC Sounds.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza says the FA Cup has lost some of its lustre in recent years but hopes the storied old competition can retain some prominence in the football calendar.

The Bluebirds travel to fellow Championship side Sheffield United for a third-round tie on Thursday (19:00 GMT).

With Cardiff battling to avoid relegation and the Blades fighting for promotion, both are expected to make wholesale changes as they concentrate on their league efforts after a busy festive schedule.

"The history of the FA Cup is massive and I don't think that will ever change," said Riza.

"But with so many more games involved now, teams have to take a different stance on it, especially those teams struggling to survive and looking to put their best team out in the league.

"We will approach the game hoping to put on a good show and trying to win."

It has become common for Premier League and Championship teams to field weakened teams in the FA Cup.

Fixture congestion is one of the main reasons, while other competitions are now often considered to be more prestigious.

Riza has personal experience of the FA Cup, having been a youth player at Arsenal when the first team lifted the trophy in 1998, while he has played for and coached non-league teams in the early rounds of the competition.

"The FA Cup is important, although I think it has become less important because of a number of factors," Riza added.

"I don't know if you stipulate that teams have to put out their strongest teams. It is difficult because there are so many games. You have to look at it that players get given an opportunity. It gives our youngsters, those who are ready, a chance to play.

"We've just about got enough to put out another competitive side who hopefully will go into the Sheffield United game to win it.

"But we do have to consider we have another game very quickly on Tuesday [at home to Watford in the Championship] and the players will need to be ready for that."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

The FA Cup third round means a chance for respite for Cardiff City amid the scrap to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Yet a trip to Sheffield United was not the kindest draw for the Bluebirds, who have had few FA Cup moments to savour since their run to the final 17 years ago.

Dave Jones' Cardiff side did something remarkable by reaching the final as a second-tier club in 2007-08, when they were beaten to the trophy by Portsmouth after Nwankwo Kanu's solitary goal at Wembley.

Since then, however, there has not been much to shout about.

Cardiff have won only nine FA Cup ties across the previous 16 seasons, with just one success – against Preston North End in 2021-22 – coming in the past four campaigns.

They have been on the end of upsets, losing as a Premier League club to Gillingham in 2019-20 and Wigan Athletic in 2013-14.

They have also been eliminated by Shrewsbury Town, in 2015-16, and Macclesfield Town in 2012-13.

Cardiff, meanwhile, have failed to knock out opponents from a higher division since their run to Wembley, when they overcame Middlesbrough – who were then in the Premier League – in the last eight.

A win at Bramall Lane on Thursday may not be classed as a cup shock given that Cardiff and Sheffield United are in the same division.

But certainly, an away victory would upset the odds, given that Omer Riza's team are in the bottom three while the Blades are third – and would be top but for a points deduction.

At the third-round stage last season, Cardiff were thumped 4-0 by Sheffield United's city rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

And in the previous campaign, Cardiff drew 2-2 at home against Leeds United – a Premier League club at the time – before going down 5-2 in the replay at Elland Road.

After what has been an arduous season to date, Riza's men - who should be buoyed by a three-match unbeaten run - must hope for a more enjoyable trip to Yorkshire this time around.

Image source, Getty Images

Ryotaro Tsunoda has rejoined KV Kortrijk on loan until the end of the 2024/2025 season.

The Japanese defender signed for the Bluebirds in the 2024 January transfer window and immediately went out on loan to the Belgian side, who are also owned by Vincent Tan.

Tsunoda made nine appearances in the Jupiler Pro League last season before a hamstring injury cut his campaign short.

Cardiff, meanwhile, welcome back striker Roko Simic to the Welsh capital.

The Croatia Under-21 international had been on loan with Kortrijk.

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Former Cardiff City midfielder Romaine Sawyers looks set to join a new club after leaving AFC Wimbledon.

Sawyers, 33, was released by Cardiff last summer.

He was without a club until he signed a one-month deal at League Two Wimbledon in early December.

Sawyers played five times for the Dons, scoring in what proved to be his final appearance for the club in the win at Newport County last week.

But the club have revealed Sawyers has departed to "pursue a new challenge" after negotiations over his future.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says he is disappointed striker Callum Robinson will be forced to miss three games with suspension.

Cardiff appealed Robinson's straight red card against Coventry City, with Riza saying at the time that "If anyone thinks that's a red card then I'm a monkey's uncle."

Robinson missed Saturday's 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough and will also be unavailable for their next two matches.

Riza believed stand-in referee James Durkin was overawed by his elevation from fourth official in sending off Robinson, Cardiff's top scorer with eight goals this term.

"We appealed against the red card. They didn't overturn it and I was disappointed about that," Riza told BBC Radio Wales.

"I still don't think it was a red card. He will now miss three games."

Riza admits Robinson is a huge absence as Cardiff battle to get out of the Championship relegation zone.

"He is a big miss for us, he is our talisman, he gets the goals and we will have to find an answer," he added.

"We have boys who will have to go in and do a job."