By Gareth James
Omer Riza believes Cardiff City’s surprise 1-0 FA Cup victory at Sheffield United can provide the fuel to propel his team away from relegation trouble.
Riza watched a much-changed Bluebirds team beat an equally re-jigged home side thanks to a Cian Ashford goal to move into the fourth round.
It was a win few saw coming against a club chasing promotion at the other end of the Championship from Cardiff, but manager Riza is hopeful it provides a boost to their league campaign.
“To come away again, whether league or cup, the momentum of not losing, away from home against a tough side, can only build confidence levels and cameraderie around the group,” said Riza.
“It’s a tough place to come. Both teams not at full strength. I know they rested a few as well. I’ve got maximum respect for (Sheffield United manager) Chris Wilder and his staff.
“But for us today it was about coming here to try and perform and get a result and I think we deserved it.
“We’ll keep working hard and keep trying to pick up three points, not one, that’s important at the moment.
A positive first half from City, who lead at the break.#CityAsOne | #EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/z19oRy2nQp
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 9, 2025
Relegation battlers Cardiff made it four games unbeaten in all competitions even though Riza made seven changes to his side ahead of kick off.
Ashford’s first-half strike in front of a crowd of just 6,126 at Bramall Lane was enough to send Cardiff through and was only their second FA Cup victory in five years.
Wilder, forced to make seven changes with at least nine first-team players ruled out through injury, is hoping to bring in “three or four” players during the transfer window.
“We’ve been talking the last 48 hours continually, working and trying to progress deals through,” said Wilder, whose side sit third in the Sky Bet Championship.
️ “The team spirit and morale is high. We’re unbeaten in four now and we’ll keep working hard.”
Omer spoke to the press to reflect on victory in the #EmiratesFACup ⬇️#CityAsOne
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) January 9, 2025
He added: “I’d sum it up by saying their fringe players were better than our fringe players and their youngsters were better than ours on the whole. And that was the game.
“Our priority, unfortunately, is the Championship. It’s a bit sad in a way, the way it’s going.
“But with nine out and risks to certain players it was needs must. Playing on a Thursday was sad, too. It didn’t feel like an FA Cup third-round game that we’ve all been involved in.
“It is really frustrating for me because we are brought up to win but I can’t risk any of those senior players out there. People will say ‘why put them on the bench?’, I had to put them on the bench because I would have had even more young kids on the bench.
Cian Ashford: Remember the Name
A first #EmiratesFACup goal for @CardiffCityFC ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/DwdsAj04I1
— Emirates FA Cup (@EmiratesFACup) January 9, 2025
Cardiff turned the formbook upside down thanks to Ashford’s first FA Cup goal on his eighth senior start for the club and Wilder was left disappointed.
Harrison Burrows struck a post for the Blades late in the game, but it was too little, too late for Wilder’s much-changed side.
City, who have only twice gone beyond the fourth round since losing to Portsmouth in the 2008 final, could have been 2-0 up inside five minutes, with both chances falling to striker Kion Etete.
His powerful header was well saved by Blades goalkeeper Adam Davies and then he blazed off-target from in front of goal after being teed up by Rubin Colwill.
The Bluebirds took a deserved lead in the 19th minute when Ashford dispossessed dallying Blades skipper Rhys Norrington-Davies and ran clear on goal before burying a composed, low finish.
Young striker Louie Marsh provided the Blades’ best first-half moment, with his first-time effort turned away by Cardiff goalkeeper Ethan Horvath.
Horvath was forced into action again in the second period, twice saving low from Ryan One and Rhian Brewster as the home side improved.
But Cardiff continued to threaten and Ashford was denied a second goal when his curling effort was turned away by Davies before Joe Ralls, making his 400th appearance for the club, fizzed a shot narrowly wide.
The Blades, semi-finalists two seasons ago and twice quarter-finalists in the last five years, pressed for a late equaliser but Burrows’ curling shot from the left edge of the area struck a post and that was the closest they got.
