Cardiff City

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As the Championship season nears its conclusion, the battle for survival is intensifying as teams fighting to avoid relegation begin to find some much-needed form.

Second-from-bottom Luton Town are on a four-match unbeaten run, 21st-place Derby County had won four games successively before losing at Swansea City on Saturday, while Hull City in 19th have suffered only one defeat in their past six fixtures.

Those performances have plunged Cardiff City into the drop zone, but they are starting to build some momentum too.

The Bluebirds' goalless draw at Queens Park Rangers on Saturday means they only trail Derby - who occupy the first safety spot - on goal difference, albeit a significant 10-goal difference.

Cardiff are now unbeaten in three games and hope to extend that run at Preston North End on Tuesday.

"We've picked up five points from 10, we're unbeaten in three and we'll look to take that into Preston," manager Omer Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

"It's a quick turnaround. We'll see how we turn the boys around, what they look like and we'll prepare accordingly."

Preston are 14th in the table, seven points clear of the relegation zone and 12 points adrift of the play-off places.

But Riza dismissed the notion that Paul Heckingbottom's side have nothing to play for.

"No, not at all," he added. "They've got a manager in Heckingbottom who expects his teams to play a certain way no matter what.

"It will be a tough game there and we'll be prepared for that game."

Meanwhile, Cardiff hope to have the versatile defender-turned-midfielder Calum Chambers back for the trip to Deepdale after he missed the QPR draw.

"Chambo had a family issue so he got taken out of the squad late [before the game]," said Riza.

"But everything's fine and hopefully Chambo will be back available for Tuesday."

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Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says he remains confident his side will avoid relegation.

The Bluebirds are still in the drop zone with six matches remaining despite earning a 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers.

"The results are what they are. We can only manage ourselves. It's important we just try to pick up our three points where we can," Riza said.

"We have to recover and go again. We've got six more games and six more opportunities to get out of that position.

"I've felt confident all along. It's just these little moments that are important, where you've got to make it count."

Cardiff improved in the second half at Loftus Road after Riza made a triple substitution at half-time, and the Bluebirds boss says he was trying to chase victory rather than settling for a point.

"We made changes because we wanted to win the game. I felt we looked a bit leggy. We wanted to change it up," he added.

"The changes made a difference in the second half but we couldn't quite do enough to get that goal."

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Cardiff City winger Ollie Tanner expressed his excitement at returning to action after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a knee injury.

The 22-year-old missed more than two months of action but came on as a substitute during the Bluebirds' 1-1 draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend.

"I was buzzing to get back on the field last week. It was my first long-term injury. It was really frustrating," he said.

Tanner reflected on the mental and physical challenges of being injured, explaining how it affected his connection with the team: "You feel really isolated and away from the boys.

"You train on your own, do gym work on your own and it's a tough time. But it's part of the game – you get injured and you have to live with it."

With just seven games remaining in the season and Cardiff currently sitting in the relegation zone, Tanner's return is timely.

On Saturday (15:00 BST), the Bluebirds face a Queens Park Rangers side who are on a six-match winless run.

Despite Cardiff's own struggles, Tanner is fully aware that his place in the starting line-up is not guaranteed - while the wideman spoke highly of team-mate Isaak Davies who also returned from a lengthy absence due to injury.

"The boys are playing well and I'm buzzing for Isaak," he added.

"He's one of my good mates and he's scored a couple of goals. After his injuries, I told him 'I take off my hat to you because, given the amount of time you were out injured, you stayed strong'."

Tanner also praised the healthy competition for places within the squad.

"The competition can only be a good thing because, in the position we're in at the moment, we need everyone firing," he added.

"As frustrating as it is for me, if those boys are playing well and we win games, then I don't mind."

As Cardiff continue their battle against relegation, Tanner's return could provide a much-needed boost for the squad in the final stretch of the season as Omer Riza's side bid to preserve their Championship status.

Cardiff head to London sat in the Championship relegation zone ahead of their game against Queens Park Rangers (15:00 BST).

In a congested basement-battle the Bluebirds slipped below the dotted line when Derby overcame Preston on Wednesday night, despite picking up four points from their past two games.

They are effectively two points from safety, due to their inferior goal difference, but could climb above Hull City, Derby, Oxford United and Stoke if they can pick up a win while the others lose.

The Hoops are only five points ahead of Cardiff, in 15th, after a nightmare run of one point from their past six games, though four of those defeats did come on the road.

• QPR are looking to complete a league double over Cardiff City for the first time since the 2020-21 campaign.

• Cardiff, 2-1 winners at Loftus Road last season, are looking to win consecutive league visits to QPR for the first time in the EFL.

• QPR have lost eight of their past 11 league matches (W2 D1) – since the start of this run on 25 January, the Hoops have lost the most games of any Championship side.

• Cardiff have won just four of their past 41 league matches in London (D14 L23), though two of them have been at QPR (in March 2022 and January 2024).

• Cardiff's Will Alves has three assists in his past five Championship appearances and despite only debuting for the club in February, only Rubin Colwill has more assists for the Bluebirds this season (4) than his three.

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Andy Rinomhota is available for Cardiff City's trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday after returning to training following the death of his brother.

Rinomhota paid an emotional tribute earlier this week following reports that 30-year-old Joseph Itai Rinomhota died after receiving a kick to the ribs during a Muay Thai boxing match on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand.

Zimbabwe international Rinomhota, 27, missed Cardiff's draw with Sheffield Wednesday last weekend having only returned from international duty a day earlier.

But the midfielder or right-back could feature against QPR having been training this week.

"He didn't get back until Friday so he was a bit tired after playing two games. So we spoke with him and decided we'd let him rest [against Sheffield Wednesday]," said Cardiff manager Omer Riza, whose father Josh died in January.

"Obviously since then the devastating news regarding his brother happened after. He's been with his family and back in today [Thursday] training.

"He's come in, like myself coming back after something like this not so long ago, and the only thing we can do is comfort him and be there for him for whatever he needs.

"At the moment, he's trained and sometimes it's good to be around your team-mates and the people you spend time with, take your mind off things to a certain extent. He'll train and we'll look at what's happening on Saturday."

Riza also gave an update on Cardiff's other team news issues for the weekend.

"Perry Ng won't be available. He's picked up a slight problem," he said.

"Callum Robinson will be back in the squad, Chris Willock will be back in the squad.

"Anwar El Ghazi hurt his back and was unavailable today [Thursday, for training]. Joe Ralls and Rambo [Aaron Ramsey] are long-term injuries and still out."

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Cardiff City midfielder David Turnbull says the Championship relegation battle is not where the Bluebirds are meant to be as a club.

Scotland international Turnbull arrived in south Wales last February, signing a three-year deal in a £2m move from Celtic.

The club were hoping to push for play-offs under Erol Bulut only to finish in mid-table – before a woeful start to the new campaign ended in Omer Riza coming in as boss.

But Cardiff remain just one point above the bottom three heading into the final eight games of the season.

And 25-year-old Turnbull said: "Throughout the season it's not been good enough – we've been way too inconsistent.

"When we need to step up we seem to be doing that, but we need more now. For the rest of the season we need to be on it and put run of results together.

"This is not where Cardiff are supposed to be as a club, in my opinion.

"But the boys know that and it's about sticking together, getting through this and hopefully push on next season."

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Turnbull has only recently returned to the Cardiff side after more than three months out with a hamstring injury.

Now recovered from the surgery and having made his playing return in the much-needed win at Blackburn Rovers a fortnight ago, Turnbull is keen to make an impact when it counts in Cardiff's bid for safety.

Speaking ahead of the visit of Sheffield Wednesday, Turnbull said: "The injury came at a bad time personally, when I felt I was asserting myself on the team and we were putting on some good performances.

"I've got a lot to give for the rest of the season and feel I can make an impact if I'm given a chance.

"Every game is massive that we need to treat them like cup finals, and there's positivity that we can catch some of the teams above us.

"There's games we can win – we've not showed enough over the season but if we play like we know we can we can get the results."

Cardiff City host Sheffield Wednesday as they look to keep clear of the relegation zone on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

The Bluebirds are only one point above 22nd placed Derby County, with the Rams on the charge with three successive wins.

Cardiff put an end to a three match losing streak last time out with a 2-1 victory over play off contenders Blackburn Rovers but will need to make it two in a row to secure safety.

• Cardiff City have won just one of their last six home league games against Sheffield Wednesday (D4 L1), though that sole victory did come in this exact fixture last season with a 2-1 success.

• Since the start of 2008, Sheffield Wednesday have won just two of their 18 away league games against sides from Wales (D7 L9), though the Owls did win on their last visit in a 1-0 victory over Swansea City in February.

• Cardiff have lost six of their last eight league games against sides from Yorkshire (W1 D1), conceding 24 goals in total during those matches.

• Sheffield Wednesday have won each of their last two away league games whilst scoring 3+ goals in the process; the Owls' last won more in succession while netting 3+ times in each back in December 2004 in the third tier.

• Sheffield Wednesday have scored 53 goals across their 38 league games this season, last scoring more at this stage of a campaign in the second tier in 2015-16 (56).

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Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says the club probably mismanaged their pre-season and admits it could be a factor in the injury troubles they have had throughout the campaign.

The Bluebirds have had a number of hamstring injuries, with Wales captain Aaron Ramsey now ruled out for the season after hamstring surgery, joining goalkeeper Jak Alnwick on the sidelines with the same injury.

Midfielder David Turnball has just returned from three-and-a-half months out from hamstring surgery and having battled injuries all season, Riza admitted he will look to conduct pre-season differently to previous boss Erol Bulut.

"Obviously there are a lot of games in the Championship and it lead to fatigue, but every team is in the same position," he said.

"But I am not sure if we got pre-season right if I'm honest. I think we went game heavy. I wouldn't do that.

"I'd be looking for robustness, strength, power, pace and tactical training in the first week to 10 days, rather than go game loaded.

"We lost an element of that physical side with the players early on and we've had a knock-on effect and injuries because of that. Not purely because of that, but that is a factor."

Riza says he has sympathy for Ramsey, who is out of contract at the end of the season and has expressed interest in extending his tenure with his boyhood club.

"It's another unfortunate injury for Aaron, it's tough mentally for him to have to come back from another injury and operation," Riza added.

"He's been injured for a lot of the season. It's unfortunate.

"Discussions will obviously take place about where it all moves forward."

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Cardiff City could be without top goalscorer Callum Robinson for Saturday's visit of Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls, who have the third best away record in the Championship, arrive in the Welsh capital with Cardiff just a point and a place outside of the relegation zone.

The absence of Robinson and another forward, Chris Willock, would be disappointing for Cardiff who do welcome back some players from injury, with winger Callum O'Dowda set to feature despite leaving Republic of Ireland duty with muscle tightness.

"We have a couple of knocks to Chris Willock and Callum Robinson, they potentially won't be available, but other than that, everyone is back," boss Omer Riza told BBC Sport Wales.

"Perry Ng has come back in now. David Turnbull, Alex Robertson, Will Alves and Ollie Tanner are training. Andy Rinomhota hasn't come back in yet from international duty.

"Callum O'Dowda felt a bit of tightness so it was better that he didn't go because of the risk there. He's doing well and is fit for Saturday. Tanner has been in non-contact for a few sessions but was in contact today. He'll be in contention to be in the squad.

"Anwar El Ghazi has been ill, he's got over that now and is training well."

Riza expects a tough test from a Sheffield Wednesday side who have been much better on the road.

"They're a good side. They've got some attacking threats, they've got a good structure and good concepts in their game, in possession and out of possession in respect of pressing and controlling the game at times in possession. It'll be an interesting game," Riza added.

"We're looking forward to it, a home game and hopefully we'll have a good crowd behind the boys. We're expecting a good game."

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Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says he firmly believe the club can avoid relegation from the Championship.

Under Riza, Cardiff's points-per-game tally would put them 14th in the Championship, but after a record-bad start under previous boss Erol Bulut, the Bluebirds are one point and one place outside of the drop zone.

Riza faced severe scrutiny before a 2-1 win over Blackburn just before the international break, but the Bluebirds boss says he is sure his side will survive their relegation battle ahead of Saturday's visit from play-off chasing Sheffield Wednesday.

"I think we are in a very good place. I feel definitely, yes, we will survive," he said. "The boys know what is being asked of them.

"We've lost games everyone expects us to win, but then we go and do something and pick ourselves up again. I feel we are in that moment again now.

"We had one point at the start of the season, so where we've come from to where we are now… all we can do is try and win games. Stay positive and win games."

Riza feels confident that his side can pick up the points they need, speculating that around 50 points is likely to be the total needed for safety.

"It's in our hands," he said. "At the moment we are above that (relegation) line.

"We are one point above the relegation zone. We are focused. We have to take points and avoid relegation.

"We need to be in survival mode. We have to do what we have to do."

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With eight games to go and Cardiff City locked in a Championship relegation scrap, we asked for your views on what it will take for the Bluebirds to avoid the drop.

Here are some of your responses as the Bluebirds prepare for Saturday's home game with Sheffield Wednesday.

Daz - It will be a scrap, but it's in our hands. I think winning our remaining home games and maybe a couple of away points could be enough.

Tom - I think we need four wins from the last eight games. Our attack has been going well and the midfield is providing fight/steel. The defence needs to cut out the errors; it would benefit from a settled selection. It could go to wire but we're within touching distance of four teams above us. I'm hoping goal difference is not a factor.

Ian - We have a decent squad, with a manager who just cannot pick a team. Personally, the only way to stay up is to replace [Omer] Riza.

Rhiannon - I think now the main focus has to be playing the strongest team we have and playing every game like it is our last. We have to leave everything on pitch and fight.

Rhys – 48 points

Dan - If we survive and stay up, the whole process will repeat again next season. Whilst Vincent Tan has been happy to invest in the past to push for promotion, he has lost all desire to do so now. We scrape the barrel with signings with little pedigree. The players/manager give everything, but we need a positive structure. New owners desperately needed.

Gary - Can't see us staying up with Riza in charge unfortunately.

Tim - Heart says we'll be okay but head not so sure. Derby have hit a bit of form and when you compare our remaining fixtures to theirs, it is going to be very tough to better their results to stay ahead of them.

Jon - I think we need four wins and a draw to stay up which is going to be a tall order given our indifferent form this season. I'm confident that with [David] Turnbull back and [Yousef] Salech scoring the goals we will do it!. Riza needs to make up his mind regarding his best team and bar injuries or suspensions stick with it!

Robin - Our four home games are crucial. The manager has had the squad for two weeks, they all should be ready and have no doubt what is required. We have to believe we can do this, and I think we will.

David - Cardiff will go down and deservedly so. Cheap managerial appointments while spending stupid money on salaries such as [Aaron] Ramsey.

Dai - Three wins and a draw should be enough to survive - but can Cardiff get three wins?

Dennis - Riza plays a different formation and different players every week and so I'm not confident we can stay up.

Marc - I think the Bluebirds are going down. Two reasons why: the manager can't influence or get enough out of our better players, and he doesn't seem to be able to change things up as games progress. I don't say he's not good enough, I say he's not good enough YET.

Phil - With the squad Cardiff have we should be doing better. I think it is a 50-50 call we stay in league but it shouldn't be.

Dean - I think we are finally down. It's been coming for years. A badly run club. Millions wasted. Inconsistent decisions. Cheap staff and expensive players. No DNA for the club to build from. Need some football people in with the businessmen!

Nathan - I think given the remaining fixtures for the current bottom three, nine points could keep us up. Will we get them? I'm not sure! We're so inconsistent and the atmosphere at home has been awful. If we can beat Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday then yes, we stay up, if not it will be difficult. Come on Bluebirds!

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Cardiff City return to Championship action this weekend - with the battle for safety back in full focus.

The Bluebirds gave their bid to stay in the second tier a much-needed boost with the win at Blackburn Rovers before the international window.

It has appeared to ease pressure on manager Omer Riza, but the threat of relegation still looms.

With Derby County also winning last week, Cardiff, on 39 points, remain just a point and a place ahead of the bottom three Rams in 22nd, and four points above Luton in 23rd.

The visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday marks the first of the final eight games of the season.

Back-to-back away games follow - including QPR and a midweek trip to Preston - before Stoke head to south Wales, the Potters currently level on points with Cardiff.

Then it's a Good Friday game at promotion-chasing Sheffield United before Oxford United at home, with Gary Rowett's side not certain they will be out of the battle.

The season finishes with West Brom at home on 26 April and Norwich at Carrow Road on Saturday, 3 May.

Traditionally, 50 points has been seen as enough to secure safety - although it wasn't enough to save Birmingham City who went down on that tally.

So what total will be enough for the Bluebirds? How many wins do you think it will take to stay in the Championship.

And where do you think Riza's side will pick up the points to survive?

Cardiff fans, you can have your say here., external

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The kick-off time of Cardiff City's Good Friday match at Sheffield United has been moved after the Championship fixture was chosen for television coverage.

The game will now start at 17:30 BST on 18 April to be shown on Sky Sports.

United are in a strong position to make an instant return to the Premier League as they are second in the Championship, only trailing leaders Leeds United on goal difference.

Cardiff, meanwhile, are battling to survive as they sit 21st in the table, just one point above the relegation zone.

Although the Bluebirds lost the reverse league fixture 2-0 in December, they beat the Blades 1-0 at Bramall Lane in the FA Cup less than a month later.

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Cardiff City will assess Joe Ralls during the international break after he felt a recurrence of a calf problem during his side's 2-1 win at Blackburn Rovers.

The captain did not feature in six successive Championship matches after boss Omer Riza revealed he had sustained a groin problem in a 2-1 loss at Portsmouth on 11 February.

Ralls started against Rovers on Saturday but had to be replaced by Rubin Colwill in the 37th minute at Ewood Park.

"Rallsy's come back from a calf strain and he's felt it again after about 20 minutes," Riza told BBC Radio Wales.

"Bless him, he carried on and pushed through another 15 minutes and we had to get him off because he was feeling it.

"We'll look at what the damage is with that."

The win in Lancashire also saw the return of midfielder Andy Rinomhota who missed the defeats against Sunderland and Burnley with a hamstring injury.

But Riza admitted he was pleased to see the 27-year-old play for an hour as the Bluebirds returned to winning ways against Blackburn.

"Same with Andy Rinomhota, he's come back from a hamstring injury," added Riza.

"To get 60 minutes out of him was pleasing. We couldn't push it much more than that."

Cardiff sit a point above the Championship's relegation zone and return to action against Sheffield Wednesday in the Welsh capital on Saturday, 29 March (15:00 GMT).

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Cardiff City's Callum O'Dowda has withdrawn from this week's international action after pulling out of the Republic of Ireland squad.

But the injury is not said to be serious to give hopes one of the Bluebirds' key men will be fit to return to Championship action next weekend.

Republic of Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson had selected the Bluebirds wing-back for the Nations League play-off ties with Bulgaria.

But it was announced the 29-year-old was ruled out through injury, which is thought to have been a minor knock.

O'Dowda has been a consistent performer for Cardiff and featured as Omer Riza's side picked up a vital win at Blackburn Rovers in their bid to avoid relegation from the Championship.

The 38-cap Callum Robinson, Cardiff's top scorer this season with 12 goals, was not selected by Ireland.

The Bluebirds will seek to follow up their victory at Ewood Park when they welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, 29 March.

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Iwan Roberts hailed Yakou Meite's matchwinner at Blackburn Rovers as the most important goal of the forward's Cardiff City career.

Meite, 29, scored with his first touch of the match after replacing Callum Robinson in the 72nd minute of the Championship contest at Ewood Park.

It was only the fourth goal the Ivory Coast international has scored for the Bluebirds since joining from Reading in the summer of 2023.

And former Wales striker Roberts felt Cardiff had to win against Rovers to ensure Omer Riza kept his position as manager.

"I thought if Omer Riza lost the game he would have lost his job," Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast programme.

"Yakou Meite, he'd only been on the pitch for a minute and he scores the goal that wins it.

"He's only scored four goals for the club in 66 games, but that's certainly the most important."

Despite victory, Cardiff sit just one point above the Championship's relegation zone with eight matches remaining this season.

And Roberts feels the Bluebirds must continue to pick up wins to stay ahead of the likes of Derby County and Luton Town who have improved of late.

"It's only their second away win this season and they went into the game having lost four in a row, including against Aston Villa in the FA Cup," he added.

"They're still only one point ahead of Derby who are third from bottom and they've got great momentum, they've won their last three.

"Luton, they've taken seven points from their last four games, those two teams are starting to pick up points."