By Graham Thomas
Omer Riza believes his Cardiff City team have thrown away eight points in their battle to avoid relegation – even though they have climbed out of the drop zone.
Riza bemoaned the Bluebirds’ inability to hold onto a lead as they conceded in the 87th minute at home to Watford on Tuesday night.
The goal turned what would have been a 1-0 victory – and three priceless points – into a 1-1 draw. It was enough to nudge Riza’s men out of the relgation zone, but does not give them the three-point cushion they would have enjoyed.
Riza reckons Cardiff have given up eights in the last four matches by throwing away leads. They doesn’t quite tie in with the facts, since Cardiff began that sequence with a win at Watford, drew 1-1 with Coventry City, who levelled just after half-time, and actually came from behind to draw 1-1 at Middlesbrough before throwing away those points at home to the Hornets.
But a quick glance at Riza’s time in charge does indeed reveal eight points chucked away from winning positions with goals conceded late in the game.
It happened away at Bristol City, at Coventry, at Stoke, and now at home to Watford.
Omer Riza:
“Striker position, wingers potentially, hopefully within the next few days we will get a few players through the door.”#CardiffCity pic.twitter.com/8koCVs1SoO
— ccfcinsider (@ccfcinsiderr) January 14, 2025
“I am frustrated for the players, they have worked really hard again and deserved to take three points, but if you don’t do enough you give teams the opportunity to get back in the game,” said Riza.
“The last four games we should have got eight points more in the league and it would have taken us to 13th, 14th, but it’s shoulda, woulda, coulda!
“If you don’t score then you give the opposition a chance to get a goal. We need to control the game a little bit more when we are in front.
“We didn’t frustrate them or make them tire so they don’t have that energy in the end. We need to kill the energy and kill the momentum and we are not quite doing that at the moment.
“Goals and killing the momentum of the game are the things that are frustrating. But it was a good performance and we have to take that into Saturday (at home to Swansea City).”
Vakoun Bayo scored an 87th minute equaliser to earn Watford a scarcely deserved point that leaves the promotion-seekers just two points adrift of the Championship play-off places.
Bayo’s 10th goal of the season – a powerful header from Kwadwo Baah’s cross – was Watford’s first effort on goal in a match dominated to that point by the home side.
Cian Ashford had scored what looked likely to be his second successive winning goal, but although Cardiff were denied their first home victory since November 2, the point was enough to lift them out of the relegation zone.
Cian Ashford gives Cardiff the lead against Watford! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/2oshN9o1Z4
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) January 14, 2025
Wales U21 forward Ashford, whose goal gave Cardiff an FA Cup third round victory at Sheffield United – showed his alertness and poise with another sharp finish in the 65th minute.
But Watford came alive in the final five minutes and when Baah escaped down the right, Cardiff left Bayo with enough room to head home the equaliser.
Up to that point, Cardiff had dominated a limp Watford but had lacked a decisive finish to match their approach play.
Riza added: “There are always things you can work on which we are bringing to light all the time.
“The position we are in the league leads the boys to be anxious or nervous at times. But we had enough control of the game today to keep it, play out, make the opposition work more.
“We allowed them to have the ball, when we went too early with the ball, we allowed them to hurt us. That’s what happened at the end.
“For huge parts of the game we didn’t give them much. Frustrating and there is stuff we need to work on. That will improve as the season goes on.
“We know we need three points, but we are out of the bottom three for now.”
One positive note for Riza and Cardiff was the performance of local boy Ashford.
“It’s taken him some time to get there,” added Riza.
“He’s a quiet lad, a humble boy, he works really hard. He lets things get on top of him sometime and it’s up to us to recognise that and help him.
“He could have been involved before. I’ve sensed the right time and the right time is now for him and he’s proving that. He’s been excellent
“There was talk of a loan because we have to help a player like we’ve seen with Joel Bagan. It’s the same for Ash. Potentially he was going to be going out but he won’t be going out on loan now.”
Chris Willock went close to opening the scoring when he cut in from the left and clipped a dipping shot towards the far post, only to be denied by a fine save from Jonathan Bond.
Cardiff continued to press, but lacked craft when it came to delivery of the crucial final pass.
Watford’s own threat in the opening half was negligible, with striker Bayo an isolated figure.
The second-half followed a similar pattern, with Cardiff exerting pressure, but unable to find a breakthrough.
Rubin Colwill was inches wide with a low shot from 25-yards before Bond then produced another superb save to thwart Perry Ng from closer range.
Soon after, Callum Chambers and Alex Robertson combined for Cardiff, providing just enough space in the penalty area for Ashford to fire home.
