Cardiff City

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The second south Wales derby of the season has been moved to an earlier kick-off.

But the Cardiff City Stadium encounter does remain a Saturday showdown as Swansea City look to avoid a second successive defeat at the home of the Bluebirds.

The game between the two rivals has been selected in the latest round of television picks from the Championship, with the game taking place at 12.30 GMT on Saturday 18 January.

The Swans were beaten 2-0 on their last trip to Cardiff in September 2023 - only to rally after Luke Williams replaced Michael Duff and win the return tie at the Swansea.Com Stadium by the same scoreline in March 2024.

The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in Swansea in August, then-Cardiff manager Erol Bulut being sent off during the game which secured the only point he picked up this season before being sacked the following month.

Both sides have seen three other games moved in the period that covers up to the end of February.

Swansea's game at Norwich City a week after the derby on Saturday, 25 January is also now a 12:30 GMT kick-off.

The Swans' game against Bristol City at Ashton Gate has been moved to a midday start Sunday, 9 February, meaning the home game with Sheffield Wednesday has been pushed back 24 hours to Wednesday 12 February (19:45 GMT).

Cardiff see their game at Millwall on Tuesday, 21 January moved to a 20:00 GMT kick-off, while their Severnside derby game has Bristol City travel to Cardiff City Stadium for a 12.30 GMT kick-off on Saturday, 15 February.

Finally, the Bluebirds game at Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle has also been brought forward to lunchtime, with the Saturday, 22 February fixture at Home Park now kicking-off at 12.30 GMT.

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Cardiff City will play a behind-closed-doors friendly this week as Omer Riza looks to make the most of his international window down time.

That will include hoping some key players begin to return to fitness, top scorer Callum Robinson among them.

The Bluebirds slipped back into the bottom three of the Championship as a result of Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat by Blackburn Rovers.

Questions remain over whether interim manager Riza will be offered the job permanently, with the 44-year-old admitting he does not know if he will still be in charge come the end of the break.

Riza says he will “prepare as I normally would” during the window as Cardiff look ahead to the tip to Sheffield Wednesday on 23 November.

With only three players – Rubin Colwill (Wales), Callum O’Dowda (Republic of Ireland) and Manolis Siopis (Greece) – away from the training base over the next fortnight, Riza admitted: “[The internationla window] won’t impact us too much - we have three players away and we’ll prepare this week; we’ll be training Monday and Tuesday, we have a friendly on Wednesday and after that we’ll look at a couple of days’ rest ready to come back in ahead of the Sheffield Wednesday game.”

The wait for the next fixture also provides a chance for players to return with captain Joe Ralls set to be back after the international fixtures having missed the last six games with an unspecified leg injury.

Robinson, meanwhile, has been nursing an Achilles problem that caused the five-goal striker to sit out at the weekend, but Riza said: “He now has a good 10-12 days to get himself back to a suitable level to start playing again.”

Calum Chambers was also absent against Blackburn because of illness, with Jesper Daland filling in.

Riza said Daland's lack of recent games - after an ankle problem - showed in the defeat, but added that the Norwegian will benefit from the minutes.

And despite at one stage hoping to have Wales captain Aaron Ramsey back by now, Riza said the midfielder is “two, maybe three” weeks away from returning to the squad.

“We will have more to select from, it’s not all doom and gloom,” the former Watford coach added. “We’ve come from so far behind to get where we are now, it is credit to the boys.

“It is a hard task to climb off from one point. Yes, we’re in a position where you lose a game and you can drop back in, but that’s why I can’t look at the table. I have to look at results, performances and us believing what we’re doing – that is still there and is not going to change.”

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Cardiff City need to make a decision on whether to stick with interim manager Omer Riza or head in a different direction, according to two BBC Sport pundits.

Former Bluebirds striker Nathan Blake told BBC Radio Wales Sport that he feels Cardiff should use the upcoming international break to make a decisive decision on Riza’s future.

Cardiff lost 3-1 at home to Blackburn on Saturday as Riza’s excellent start as interim boss suffered a blow.

"It feels like time to make a decision," Blake said on BBC Radio Wales.

Riza has admitted he "doesn't know" what his future holds, but Radio 5Live pundit Chris Sutton feels the Cardiff board have now reached the point where they need to make a decision imminently having sacked previous boss Erol Bulut in September.

"Cardiff are really interesting. Omer Riza the interim manager, when are the hierarchy going to make a decision on when he gets the job or not," Sutton said on Radio 5Live.

"He’s done a brilliant job. Surely they have to make a decision? Give him the job or move on.

"What is the plan at Cardiff City?"

However, Ian Walsh believes owner Vincent Tan should hold fire on the decision, telling BBC Radio Wales "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

The former Wales and Cardiff striker said on the Call Rob phone-in: "If the club had a bit of heart and soul, in this situation I would say let the guy keep on doing what he's doing.

"Don't change anything. You're the interim manager, you're under contract to me as a football club anyway and just see how it goes.

"Now then, if come January, February he has maintained this standard of play and he's pushing the team up the league, then it's a different conversation, but don't jump in too soon."

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Cardiff City interim boss Omer Riza admits he "doesn't know" if he will remain the Bluebirds boss through the international break.

After a run of impressive results, Cardiff have been beaten in their last two league games and Riza admits that could impact his future.

The stand-in boss, who has been endorsed by several of the Cardiff players, had talks with Cardiff's owners last weekend before their 2-1 win over Norwich City.

However, no agreement has been reached to keep Riza in charge on a permanent basis and he admits he is in the dark over the plans of the club, especially after two losses.

When asked about his future, he told BBC Sport Wales: "Regarding what it looks like, I don't know. It's every international break is a chance to bring in another manager.

"We have always said that when you are winning it's more difficult, when you are losing it's easier.

"It depends what the club wants to do moving forward, only they can answer it.

"What I'm worried about is not winning games. The pressure is there if you don't win games and then the opportunity is there for anything to happen. I'm not going to say whether I want the job, you already know the answer to that."

As for a timeline on a permanent successor to previous boss Erol Bulut, who was sacked in September, Riza added: "They are going to make a decision eventually, you just have to wait."

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Cardiff City striker Isaak Davies is not expected to play again until mid-January at the earliest, according to interim manager Omer Riza.

Davies, 23, has suffered a "set-back" during his rehabilitation from the serious hamstring injury he suffered during a pre-season match in August.

The initial prognosis suggested Davies would be fit by November.

"He's working hard in the gym now," said Riza. "He's a focused lad so he'll come through that OK and he'll be a good asset when he's back."

There was more positive news for another long-term absentee as striker Kion Etete scored on his return from injury.

The 22-year-old, another who picked up a hamstring injury during pre-season, found the net for Cardiff's Under-21 side in their 4-1 win over Bristol City on Monday.

"Kion makes me laugh on a daily basis," said Riza.

"He's training hard. He's working hard. He's moaning hard, but it's all in good spirit.

"Good to see him get time with the 21s - [he had] 45 minutes and he scored a goal, which is good for him after such a long time out. And we'll see how he progresses."

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Interim Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says leading scorer Callum Robinson is battling an ongoing Achilles problem.

Robinson has five goals in 12 appearances for the Bluebirds this season.

But the Republic of Ireland international was withdrawn for the final 20 minutes as Cardiff suffered a first defeat in seven league games at Luton Town on Tuesday.

"Callum's carrying a knock, a chronic Achilles at the moment, which stiffens up on him," said interim Bluebirds boss Riza.

"We probably could have got him through the game but for me it was about changing it up and getting a little bit more intensity on the top line, just to freshen it up.

"I think towards the end of the game, we had Luton in their half but just couldn’t do enough to create and score."

Riza says Alex Robertson is set to be available for Saturday's home fixture against Blackburn Rovers after the midfielder missed the Luton trip and last weekend's win over Norwich City with a hamstring problem.

"He has come through the injury well," Riza added. "He will be hopefully training and ready to go on Saturday."

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Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts feels too many Cardiff City players had an "off night" as the Bluebirds' six-game unbeaten run was ended by Luton Town.

Jacob Brown's header in the 57th minute earned the Hatters a 1-0 victory against Omer Riza's side at Kenilworth Road as Cardiff slipped to 21st in the Championship.

It was only the club's second defeat in eight matches under Riza - with Cardiff now sitting outside of the division's bottom three on goal difference.

And Roberts feels the Bluebirds will regret not taking at least a point back to south Wales from Bedfordshire.

"It's not the best of nights," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"You've got to take it on the chin and see it for what it was.

"Not the standard that's been set by Omer Riza. It's not an easy place to come to, Kenilworth Road.

"I just get the feeling, had they been at it tonight, it was a game they were more than capable of going back to south Wales with a point.

"Too many players had an off night. They never really tested [Luton goallkeeper, Thomas] Kamisnki, the best opportunity fell to [Anwar] El Ghazi in the first half."

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Omer Riza says he was unhappy with the officiating during Cardiff City's 1-0 defeat at Luton Town.

Jacob Brown netted the only goal of the contest at Kenilworth Road as the Bluebirds' six-game unbeaten run came to an end.

But interim boss Riza was left unimpressed with referee Matt Donohue after the game in Bedfordshire.

"I wasn't too happy with the officiating today if I'm being really honest," he told BBC Radio Wales.

"I thought it was quite one sided. I felt a lot of stuff given to them was really similar to what wasn't given to us.

"I just couldn't quite understand it at times. I tried to ask the question at half-time and it was difficult.

"That was disappointing for me, to come to a place like this and not be given, as far as I'm concerned, things that should have been given that weren't, which caused us even more of a problem.

"But well done to Luton, they managed to get a win against us today and the boys are disappointed which, for me, shows where we've come to at the moment."

Luton were also left feeling aggrieved in the latter stages of the first-half after referee Donohue failed to award the home side a penalty after an apparent handball by Cardiff defender Calum Chambers.

"I've not had a chance to look back at it, it was handball and it hasn't been given," added Riza.

Defeat to the Hatters was only Cardiff's second in eight outings under Riza.

The Bluebirds fall to 21st in the table, sitting above the Championship's bottom three on goal difference.

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Nathan Blake has already said he believes interim Cardiff City boss Omer Riza should be given the job on a permanent basis.

Now the former Wales striker has suggested Riza's style of football is the best seen at Cardiff in a decade.

Having continued their sharp upturn in form with a 2-1 win over Norwich City last weekend, Riza's Cardiff go to Luton Town on Wednesday.

"The managerial changes there's been at Cardiff for the last over 10 years has been ridiculous," ex-Bluebird Blake told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"But the style of football I've seen, personally, probably is the best I've seen in the last 10 years. I would include the Neil Warnock era in that, even though Neil got promotion.

"I think the style of football is more updated and more in tune with what you see in Premier League football. If that is your goal, and you're trying to get there, then you need to at least adopt a style that if you get there, it's going to keep you there."

Cardiff have lost only one of seven games under Riza and Blake believes his impact has lifted players' morale.

"They're playing a different brand of football than they were under Erol Bulut," said Blake.

"I think everyone can see that, and it's just surprising how a few results can change confidence in players... a slight style of play change and all of a sudden a few results and then they've really kicked on.

"A lot of players are in good form, rather than the flip side, [a lot of players] who were struggling. So I put it down to confidence. Results breed confidence."

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Wales head coach Craig Bellamy hopes Aaron Ramsey will carry on playing for another "couple of years" despite his recent injury problems.

The Cardiff City midfielder has not played since mid-September because of a hamstring strain.

Ramsey, 33, also missed a large chunk of last season with a knee injury.

Ramsey has not been included in the Wales squad for Nations League games against Turkey and Iceland this month, even though he is closing in on a return to full fitness.

"I honestly still believe that he still has a good couple of years in him because of his footballing brain," said Bellamy.

"If you just watch his movement and how he's able to use his feet... you can tell a lot about a footballer with the way they use their feet

"Aaron is still able to do that, he still has an eye for a pass and can still time his runs.

"I believe he still has a period of really good football ahead of him that he's going to be able to offer us."

After he was appointed in July, Bellamy decided to keep Ramsey on as Wales captain even though the former Arsenal player only made 15 appearances for club and country last season.

Bellamy says a man who played an important role in helping Wales qualify for two European Championships and a World Cup still has an important role.

"He still has a lot to offer, not only playing-wise, but also to younger players and being able to show them what elite footballers look like," Bellamy added.

"When I was developing as a player, learning off the likes of Mark Hughes and Gary Speed and seeing really elite levels allowed me to have a decent career."

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Cardiff City interim manager Omar Riza is waiting to see if Alex Robertson will be fit to return to the squad for Wednesday's game against Luton Town.

The midfielder missed the 2-1 win against Norwich City on Saturday with a hamstring injury.

"He had a slight ache in his hamstring, so it was a cautious one really," said Riza.

"We just need to manage him and see how he progresses before we make a decision on what happens on Wednesday."

Robertson joined Cardiff from Manchester City in the summer and has scored twice in 12 appearances this season.

The Australian international has developed into a key player for the Bluebirds and before he suffered the injury had started every game since Riza took charge.

Cardiff will look to extend their six-game unbeaten run when they face the Hatters.

Right-back Perry Ng is available again having being suspended for the game against Norwich.

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Callum Robinson has singled out Omar Riza’s man management skills as a big reason for Cardiff City's upturn in form in the Championship.

The Bluebirds are unbeaten in their last six matches under Riza, winning four and scoring 11 goals.

Striker Robinson scored one of two late goals in Riza’s latest victory, a 2-1 win against Norwich City and the Cardiff caretaker boss has since revealed that he has held "constructive talks" with the club’s board as they mull over the full-time manager’s position.

"I think Riza has done an unbelievable job," said Robinson.

"I don't think there’s [another] manager out there at the moment, form-wise. Since he’s taken over, I don't reckon anyone has got as many points as us, so he's done a great job and got us all confident again.

"It’s nice to see squad [players] getting used and they're coming in with the same mentality, wanting to do well and that's all we can ask for. I think Riza has pushed the whole squad to be used and to be ready when it’s your chance."

Robinson’s late strike was his fourth goal since Riza has taken charge and the Republic of Ireland international says his manager has also been a source of support since the death of close friend and former Sheffield United teammate George Baldock.

"He's just a good person," added Robinson.

"Sometimes being a manager, the main thing is being a good man manager. With football it's tactics and everything on the pitch but I feel that when there's so many games, sometimes it's off the pitch and he’s given me all my confidence back, got me in the right positions where I've played and scored goals in the past.

"He’s spoken to me about football and non-football stuff and the not so good two or three weeks with one of my best mates passing, he was texting me and making sure I was fine.

"It’s just the little things, the small percentages and he's probably doing that with a lot of the boys and that pushes you to want to do well for him and I feel that all the boys have done that for him. Us lads couldn’t have done much more in the last three weeks for him and it's proved with the points we’ve picked up along the way."

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Cardiff City interim boss Omer Riza says he held “constructive talks” with the club's board as he inches closer to becoming the Bluebirds’ permanent boss.

The Bluebirds’ recent revival under Riza continued as two late goals from Callum Robinson and Callum O’Dowda saw them stun Norwich City in the Welsh capital.

As reported by BBC Sport Wales, Riza met with Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman and chief executive Ken Choo before the Canaries clash.

Cardiff have earned 14 points from Riza’s seven games in charge, with the Bluebirds winning four, drawing twice and losing just once.

“We’ve had a good constructive meeting yesterday and we will move forward with that,” Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

“I was really happy with the meeting and I am sure in due course the board will talk with you guys (the media).”

Riza says he is continuing to enjoy his opportunity, following the sacking of previous boss Erol Bulut.

“I have been working hard for a long-time for a position like this,” Riza added.

“This opportunity has come around (being interim manager) and I am thankful for it and I think everyone is applying themselves the right way, we are getting results and I’d like to think that everyone is happy.

“We will keep moving forwards.”

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Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza says his side no longer feel they are “underdogs” going into games.

The Bluebirds go into Saturday’s Championship home game with Norwich City on the back of an unbeaten five-game run.

The former Watford coach has masterminded a run which has seen Cardiff glean 11 points from his six matches at the helm.

They take on a Norwich side who are a point outside the play-off places and are unbeaten in their last seven league games.

But having elevated Cardiff from the bottom of the table, Riza acknowledges morale is high in the camp.

He said: “They are a dangerous side. They play good football, they can open you up, have it down the sides or through the middle of the pitch, they counter very quickly and they’re decisive in their attacking approach.

“So we’re going to have to be really good defensively, like we were against West Brom (where Cardiff drew 0-0 last Saturday).

“But I definitely feel that we’re not going into the game thinking that we are underdogs, if you like.

“The way we’re performing at the moment, we’re going to go in like we want to win the game, which I’ve said in every game that we approach.”

Cardiff are currently 20th in the table, four points away from bottom club Portsmouth.

But Riza, who is due to have talks with the Cardiff hierarchy this weekend, believes there is still so much work to do.

He said: “Its important players are in a good place mentally and physically for them to be able to perform.

“I think they are in a good place at the moment and they need to continue because we have not really achieved anything yet, other than trying to get ourselves back to where we thought we should have started.

“There is a lot more work to do and we cannot sit on our laurels and think we have done enough, because have done nowhere near enough yet.

"I said to the boys we need to keep pushing forward and keep working hard.”