Cardiff City

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Former Cardiff City captain Jason Perry says Rubin Collwill has taken the first step in letting his football do the talking, praising his "ugly" work.

But Perry says he is keen for a lid to be kept on expectations of the young Wales international.

Collwill was told he faces a “make or break” year at international level by Wales Under-21 boss Matty Jones after he was again left out of Craig Bellamy’s senior squad.

While plenty are excited about the 22-year-old’s potential, Perry is among those who believe the academy product needs to focus on living up to the headlines by concentrating on the basics.

Yet the former defender said he was pleased by what he saw from Collwill in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

“People went too early with Rubin,” Perry told BBC Radio Wales Sport. “I’ve said it before, there’s been too much hype about him from the media, supporters.

“I just want him to play his game and not have people talking about him.

“But in this game was the first time I saw a performance where he pressed with intelligence, he showed he had energy, he showed all the ugly things you have to do.

“And when he got on the ball, the weight of the passes was sensational, the easy balls to help his team as well.”

“But this was 90 minutes, let’s not get carried away about Premier League and how he’s going to be the main man, let’s enjoy it, let’s keep the profile low, let’s let him do it all season.”

Time is ticking on Cardiff City's search for a new manager - with interim boss Omer Riza waiting to find out if he is staying in charge for the Bluebirds' next game.

It is more than two weeks since Erol Bulut was relieved of his duties after a 2-0 home defeat by Leeds United.

Riza - brought in by the club over the summer to assist Bulut - was told to take temporary charge as chief executive Ken Choo oversaw the hunt for the next man.

The 44-year-old Riza has since taken four points from three games and has made it clear he would like the job on a longer-term basis.

Speaking after Sunday's Severnside derby draw with Bristol City, the former Watford coach says he was not sure if he would still be in the hotseat for the visit of Plymouth Argyle after the international break on 19 October, with the visit of fellow strugglers Portsmouth coming up just four days later.

But amid mixed responses to his time in charge so far, do you think Riza has done enough to be named manager? Would you be happy if he was handed the role until the end of the season?

Or do you think Cardiff need to look elsewhere - and who is the realistic best option?

You can have your say by letting us know your thoughts here, external.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Cardiff City

Cardiff castle will be lit up in blue on Monday evening to celebrate the anniversary of Cardiff City's first ever game.

The walls of the Welsh landmark will turn to the colour of the capital city's club, 125 years on from the first time they took to the field.

Cardiff - then known as Riverside AFC - played Barry West End on 7 October 1899 close to the castle at Sophia Gardens.

The club was formed by Bartley Wilson who was a member of Riverside Cricket Club, based at the now home of Glamorgan.

With the idea of keeping the players fit during the winter, Wilson arranged to set up the football club, with its first friendly falling on this day 125 years ago.

The marking of the date forms part of the club's season-long celebrations of the anniversary,

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City interim boss Omer Riza says he does not regret the substitutions he made in the Bluebirds’ 1-1 draw with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Cardiff led through Ollie Tanner’s superb opening goal and seemed to be in control of the contest before a switch to five defenders on 66 minutes saw them lose momentum.

Riza’s substitutions have been criticised by some Cardiff fans, but the interim boss says he felt it was the right decision.

“Misses when you are 1-0 up are always costly because anything can happen and it allows the opposition to apply pressure,” he told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“But we missed those opportunities and that is something we need to improve.

“I don’t really have any regrets on the substitutions, I felt the game was swaying a little bit, I thought they were getting through us a bit more through the middle of the pitch.

“We thought out of possession we could go 5-4-1.

“We still managed to maintain a certain amount of pressure, but we need to be calmer in our processes.”

Riza admitted the draw, which failed to lift Cardiff off the foot of the Championship, dented the Bluebirds’ morale.

“The players are deflated because it (winning the game) was in the palm of our hands,” he added.

“But before the game I think we’d have taken a point. It hasn’t taken us off the bottom of the table, but I am happy with the players.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City may have had some difficult days in the south Wales derby in the last few years, but they have enjoyed their recent meetings with Bristol City.

The Bluebirds make the short trip to Ashton Gate today for the Severnside derby against Bristol City.

And despite their difficult start to the season, Cardiff can travel with some confidence given that they have won the last three games against the Robins without conceding a goal.

There will be a new man leading the Bluebirds across the Bridge, of course, with Omer Riza in charge following last month’s sacking of Erol Bulut.

Cardiff’s interim boss was in the dugout as part of Bulut’s staff for the draw at Swansea City in August.

And while he has only been working in south Wales since the summer, the former Watford coach insists he knows the significance of the Bristol City fixture.

“It’s a massive game, a derby,” Riza said.

“I know how important derbies are. Against Swansea we put up a good game and could have come away with a win.

“We will approach this in the same way – we will be high intensity, not allowing the opposition to play if we can and looking to implement our style on them.”

In truth, of course, the stakes in every Cardiff game are high right now.

Despite Tuesday’s victory over Millwall, Cardiff remain bottom of the Championship having failed to win in their first seven league games of 2024-25.

It will take a few more results before the Welsh club’s fans can start enjoying what so far has been a painful season.

And for Riza, every game counts as he tries to convince the Cardiff hierarchy that he should be given the manager’s job on a permanent basis.

“The players have been excellent. They have taken everything on board,” Riza added.

“Bristol City have been a bit hot and cold this season but they are not a bad team. They can hurt us if we don’t do things properly, but on the flip side we can hurt them.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Omer Riza is confident Cardiff City can continue to progress after claiming a long-awaited first league win of the season against Millwall in midweek.

Cardiff remain bottom of the Championship as they prepare for Sunday’s Severnside derby at Bristol City.

But interim boss Riza believes his team can put the club’s worst ever start to a season behind them by building on the Millwall victory.

“We have made changes tactically, we have made personnel changes, and I think there’s been elements of an uplift in that,” said Riza, who took charge after Erol Bulut was sacked 13 days ago.

“I think there’s a real togetherness at the moment. We have got a result in a tough game against Millwall and if we continue doing the things we are working on, we will continue to improve.”

Riza’s first game at the helm was a heavy defeat at Hull City last weekend.

But having taken the lead in a league game for the first time this season against the Tigers, Cardiff repeated the trick when Perry Ng headed in against Millwall on Tuesday.

They then dug deep to deliver a maiden league clean sheet of the 2024-25 campaign.

“I think you can see that element of belief coming back in the squad,” Riza added.

“You can see the players understanding the work-rate and work ethic have to be there no matter what, whether it’s a derby.

“Whether it’s Millwall, whether it’s Plymouth, it doesn’t matter. That has to be there first and foremost before you get any foothold in a game.

“We have the quality as players in possession and the way we set up to cause the opposition a problem, so we are confident we can progress.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Joel Bagan feels he has returned to Cardiff City a “different player” following his loan spell at Belgian club Zulte Waregem.

Having spent last season in Belgium’s second tier, the 23-year-old defender has made six appearances for Cardiff in all competitions this term.

Bagan earned praise for his performance in the Bluebirds’ first league win of the season on Tuesday as they beat Millwall 1-0.

The left-back has previously faced criticism for a perceived lack of aggression in his play but he believes that is one of the attributes he improved during his time in Belgium.

“It’s tough. I’ve spoken to managers before and said it's different in training to games,” Bagan said.

“I don't want to go into training and start smashing my team-mates before a game. But this season, I don't know, I think maybe it just comes with playing more regularly, you start to do things without thinking.

“I think that's why Belgium for me last year was so important, to get that run of games and playing regularly. I’ve come back this season and feel a lot more confident and feel like a different player.”

The win over Millwall was Cardiff’s first clean sheet in the Championship this season.

They remain bottom of the table and head to Bristol City on Sunday, but Bagan believes he and his team-mates proved a point with that much-needed victory.

“Yeah, definitely. No team wants to be sat bottom of the league without a win. We know as players, we haven't been good enough,” he said.

“It was important to get that first win, something to build on now and hopefully we can continue that and there are more points to come.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City will be boosted by the return of three players from injury for Sunday's Championship encounter at Bristol City.

Winger Callum O'Dowda is available after missing Tuesday's 1-0 win over Millwall as a precautionary measure.

Midfielder Manolis Siopis returns having been absent for the previous two matches.

And centre-back Jasper Daland - who interim manager Omer Riza had said earlier this week was close to a return - is in contention after an ankle injury caused the Norwegian to miss four games.

"Jesper trained today, so it was nice to see him back," said Riza.

"He was training for a week but he's been getting through certain phases of his rehab. Today he trained really well, so he will be up for selection.

"Callum O'Dowda trained today and trained really well, he is ready for selection.

"Sio [Siopis] trained with medical today but will be training tomorrow with us, so he is up for selection."

Cardiff are still without long-term injury absentees such as midfielder Aaron Ramsey and striker Kion Etete.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City goalkeeper Jak Alnwick believes interim manager Omer Riza has boosted the Bluebirds’ intensity as they look to climb off the bottom of the Championship table.

Cardiff earned their first league win of the season at the eighth attempt on Tuesday, beating Millwall 1-0 at home.

The Welsh side had endured their worst start to a season in their history, costing former manager Erol Bulut his job last month.

Alnwick says he has “nothing but good words” for Bulut and his staff, but has seen an improvement during Riza’s two games so far.

“He’s a possession-based coach and I think with the training level he’s put the intensity up through different drills or whatever it may be,” said Alnwick.

“I think I've seen a bit of a difference in the training level, not so much with the standard but the intensity has gone up a little bit.

“It looks like we've got a bit more intensity to our game and also a bit of calmness.”

Having been on the periphery of Cardiff’s squad before Bulut’s arrival in 2023, Alnwick enjoyed regular first-team football under the former Fenerbahce boss.

He lost his place to Evan Horvath but has since reclaimed his starting berth ahead of the United States international.

Asked about Bulut’s departure, Alnwick added: “It’s not nice. They [Bulut and his staff] are great men who’ve lost their jobs and you never want to see that at a football club. He's moved his whole life over from a different country and made a real commitment and, on a personal level, I couldn't thank them enough.

“Since they came to the club, I ended up playing a lot of games, I signed a new contract and I made this my home and that was down to them. So I've got nothing but good words for them. It just didn't work out. But that's how it is in football. It can happen.”

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff City's interim boss Omer Riza believes Gavin Ward's qualities are exactly what the Bluebirds need behind the scenes at present.

Ward returned to Cardiff as interim first team goalkeeper coach following the departure of Mario Galinović, who left after the sacking of head coach Erol Bulut.

And Riza feels the return of Ward, who helped the Bluebirds win the Division Three title and the Welsh Cup during the 1992-93 season, can only benefit the club.

"Gav's a good friend of mine, he's been at QPR a long time," Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

"He's a great guy, a great character with a great work ethic.

"To bring him back to Cardiff, I think it made a lot of people happy as well.

"Not only is he a professional guy, he's also a great person, and they're the sort of people you want around the place."

Image source, Getty Images

Jesper Daland is set to be available for Cardiff City's trip to Bristol City on Sunday (15:00 BST).

The Norwegian centre-back has missed the Bluebirds' past four games due to an ankle injury sustained during his side's 2-0 defeat by Middlesbrough in September.

But interim boss Omer Riza has confirmed the defender is in contention to feature for the visitors at Ashton Gate this weekend.

"Jasper will probably be back in contention. He's been training," Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

Cardiff will assess several players prior to the contest with the Robins, including Ollie Tanner who received a knock during the Bluebirds' 1-0 triumph over Millwall.

"Ollie got caught in a tackle," added Riza.

"Credit to him, he carried on and got through it, so we'll see how Ollie fares in the week.

"We're going to have a lot of tired legs, Rallsy's [Joe Ralls] played 90 [minutes], Alex [Robertson] has played another 90, Chambo's [Calum Chambers] played another 90.

"A lot of the boys played 90 tonight [Tuesday] who played on Saturday so we'll reassess everything when we come back in.

"We've got a few more days now until Bristol City on Sunday, luckily we've got the extra day and we'll start again."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Neil Harris says managers have to accept high demands if they work for Cardiff City.

Millwall boss Harris spent 14 months in charge at Cardiff before being sacked in January 2021.

Harris led the Bluebirds to the Championship play-offs in 2019-20, but was shown the door after a run of six successive defeats.

He made a first return to the Cardiff City Stadium as Millwall were beaten 1-0 by a Cardiff side under the stewardship of Omer Riza, who is in interim control following last month’s sacking of Erol Bulut.

Perry Ng’s header was enough to deliver Cardiff’s first league win of the season.

Bulut’s exit – which came only 111 days after he signed a two-year contract – has left Cardiff looking for a 12th permanent manager in 14 years.

Asked about the latest upheaval at his former club, Harris said: “Cardiff have had success over the last 20 years, promotion, Premier League time, good Championship periods.

“The demand from the fanbase and the ownership as well is to try to be top half, top six of the league - try to fight to get back into the Premier League.

“Obviously it was a poor start to the season so, as I found myself after a poor run, a change happens. We accept that as managers.

“When you step into the hot seat here, you know what the demand is.”

Harris added that he is “always disappointed” to see managers leave Cardiff because "sometimes I’d like to see people get given a bit more opportunity to extend their stay”.

However, the former striker said club owner Vincent Tan was entitled to expect success.

“On the flip side, Vincent’s a good bloke who has put a lot of money into the football club and his demands are high,” Harris added.

“Erol will know that. I am pleased for Omer to get an opportunity. I am disappointed his first success has come against us, but what it does is buys a bit of time for the football club to make calm decisions.”

Image source, Rex Features

Harris, meanwhile, said he was “surprised” when the chance to sign Cardiff midfielder Ryan Wintle on loan for the season presented itself in August.

Wintle was allowed to leave by Bulut despite playing 44 times in 2023-24.

“We were pleased to take Ryan,” Harris said.

“His opportunity to be in our starting XI has not come yet because we have played so well, but when he’s come on he’s been very good for us and he has been excellent in training.”

Image source, Getty Images

Danny Gabbidon believes Cardiff City’s hard-fought victory over Millwall could change the course of their season.

Perry Ng’s goal saw the Bluebirds claim a first league win of 2024-25 at the eighth attempt.

Cardiff remain bottom of the Championship despite Tuesday’s triumph, but Gabbidon says the result will change the mood at his old club.

“It could turn their season around,” the former defender told BBC Radio Wales Sport.

“We have been talking about maybe a relegation dogfight already, but in this league you can go from six or seven games without a win to six or seven games unbeaten, then you are in a very different position.

“I have been in this situation myself where you don’t know where the next win is coming from.

“But they have gone out, puffed their chests out, we have seen some good individual performances, a good team performance and they have got the result. That will be massive for confidence.”

Image source, Getty Images

Cardiff sacked Erol Bulut last month having taken only one point from their first six league games of the new campaign.

Omer Riza’s first match as interim boss ended in a 4-1 defeat at Hull last weekend, but his team responded by battling to victory against Millwall.

“For Omer Riza to get a reaction like this – he will be absolutely delighted,” Gabbidon added.

“They have defended well and ended up getting the win with a really well-worked goal from a set-piece. I thought they deserved it.

“There will be smiles on faces in the dressing room and they will be looking forward to the next game.”

Riza said after Millwall that he does not know how long his spell in charge will last.

Cardiff go to Bristol City next, on Sunday, and Gabbidon says the Millwall triumph has bought the club time as they search for Bulut’s long-term replacement.

“If Omer Riza is getting results, it takes the pressure off the hierarchy a bit," he said.

"They can take their time and they do need to get their decision right.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza does not know how long he will remain in charge – or when the Bluebirds might appoint a new permanent boss.

The former Watford coach took the reins on a temporary basis after Cardiff sacked Erol Bulut last month following the club’s worst start to a league season.

Although the Bluebirds remain bottom of the Championship table, Riza led them to their first win of the season on Tuesday as they beat Millwall 1-0 in his second game in charge.

Asked what the latest was regarding Cardiff’s managerial situation after the game, he said: "I don't know. I'm just getting on with my job.

“I'm really not thinking about it. This is a great club and a great opportunity with a great fanbase. And I think there's more to come.

"I think we have proved that over the last two games in a small space of time. I don't know any more information, I'd be lying if I told you anything. It's only what you see and hear and read, which can be difficult at times.

"But it's about remaining positive, making sure the boys are ready and the team is ready and we approach every game like we want to win it. That's a professional way of acting."

Riza joined Cardiff in the summer after spending almost six years at Watford, where he had been promoted to assistant first-team coach after several years in the club’s academy.

Before his first game in charge – Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Hull City – Riza said his time as interim manager of Cardiff was an “opportunity” he’s “got to take”.

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo were at Cardiff City Stadium for the Millwall game but they did not give Riza an update on the search for a new manager.

"They came in before the game, we sat down and had a chat,” Riza said.

“They wished me luck and wished the boys luck."

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Neil Harris returns to Cardiff City for the first time since being sacked as Bluebirds boss when Millwall visit the Welsh capital on Tuesday.

Harris led Cardiff to the Championship play-offs in 2019-20 but was shown the door in January 2021 with the club 15th in the second tier.

Mick McCarthy, Harris’ replacement, only lasted until October 2021 and the next man in the hotseat, Steve Morison, was dismissed in September 2022.

Mark Hudson came next - and went after only 18 games in charge. Sabri Lamouchi’s reign was equally brief, with Erol Bulut lasting just over a season before he was axed earlier this month.

There were some who felt Harris was sacked prematurely, but managers have not tended to last long at Cardiff in recent years.

Interim boss Omer Riza will take the reins for the second time as Harris’ 15th-placed Lions come in search of their first away league win of the season.

Cardiff, of course, are yet to win anywhere in the Championship in 2024-25.

Riza acknowledged in the wake of Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Hull City that the Bluebirds must halt their dreadful start to the season as quickly as possible.

“I can’t question the players’ application and character – they have been superb,” he said.

“Now we have to look forward to Millwall, a real tough game at home.

“We have to kick on, we have to improve. We have not had much time to work on things, but there was a dramatic improvement in some of the things we did [at Hull] - but we have got to stop letting in goals and we have got to score more.”

As for Harris, he says he has only fond memories of his time with the Bluebirds, but admits the club's next manager will swiftly discover how tough the job is.

Speaking to London News Online about his time at Cardiff, Harris said: “Very enjoyable. Strange during Covid times, as well.

"Vincent Tan was class – an absolute class man. I got on great with him. Great support from above in Ken Choo and Mehmet Dalman.

“I loved it. Obviously we got very, very close to the Premier League – just fell short which was a huge disappointment at the time.

“It is a tough job at Cardiff City and the next manager will find that out as well! It’s very difficult to appease everybody.

“I really look forward to my first return on Tuesday to see some really, really good people.

“It’s the capital of Wales. It is a big football club and you’re brilliantly backed by Vincent. Yeah, it is a really, really good job – but the demand is to get it right.”

There have been 17 goals conceded in Cardiff’s seven league games to date, while Callum Robinson’s strike at Hull was just their second in this campaign.

Cardiff's tally of one point from a possible 21 makes this one of the worst starts by any club since the second tier was rebranded as the Championship in 2004.

Surely, things have to improve soon, don’t they?