By Jake Maddaford
Cardiff City interim manager Omer Riza has told fans they are going to have to wait for the board’s decision regarding his future after his side’s 3-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers.
Despite his desire to get the job permanently, his future in the dugout is still uncertain with supporters starting to get restless about who will be their next permanent gaffer.
A victory might have nudged Riza nearer towards having his name on the office door, but Cardiff went 2-0 down and although they pulled back a goal to suggest they might get something out of the game, they finished by conceding a third.
It means Riza’s record across nine matches in charge is four wins, three defeats – including back-to-back losses in the last two games – and two draws.
“Every international break is a chance to bring in a new manager,” admitted Riza, after seeing his team slip back into the relegation zone.
“It depends on what the club want to do, and only they can tell you that.
“I don’t need to say if I want the job again, you already know my answer.
“They’re going to have to make a decision, we’re going to have to wait and see what they do.”
Omer Riza doing particularly well as caretaker , Mark Robins and Steven Schumacher seemingly available…
You just know we’re going to end up with someone called Boris who has won a few games in the 5th tier of the North Macedonian league#bluebirds
— Cardiff Matchworn Shirts (@ccfcmatchworn) November 8, 2024
Regarding his side’s performance, Riza was far from pleased with the showing his side gave.
“Today the first half was unacceptable,” Riza commented.
“You can’t start games thinking you’re going to have loads of time on the ball. We lacked intensity, urgency, and we didn’t have any ideas.”
“We were our own worst enemies in the first half.”
Riza didn’t stop there; despite admitting the second half was better, he was still unhappy with his side’s overall showing.
“We tried to pressurise and have the ball a lot more. But when we had the ball, did we deliver with quality? Not really.
“We got back in the game, and then we’re pushing for the second goal.
“Then, we get hit with a sucker punch because of the things we haven’t done well.
“If there is one positive I take from the game, it is that the second half was better than the first.
“The second goal was too easy for them; we had some players on the edge of the box not dropping in.
“To do that from our corner, it’s a sucker punch and something we shouldn’t have allowed to happen.”
The Bluebirds started the brighter of the two teams, with Rubin Colwill having an early shot blocked and another saved shortly after.
But Blackburn would take the lead against the run of play, as captain Lewis Travis’s low cross found Andreas Weimann, who continued his fine record against Cardiff, tapping home from close range.
Cardiff would continue to push for an equaliser with Colwill involved again as his shot from the edge of the box was pushed away by Ainsley Pears.
Nine minutes into the second half, though, the visitors doubled their lead after a brilliant ball in behind from Travis. Harry Pickering squared for Weimann to score in a similar fashion to his first.
Colwill then found himself unmarked in the area with a chance to give Cardiff a lifeline, but he was denied by a flying save from Pears.
The hosts finally got back into the game after Blackburn substitute Joe Rankin-Costello clashed with Callum O’Dowda, the Rovers player leading with an elbow and conceding a penalty.
David Turnbull stepped up, and despite missing the penalty, he tapped home the rebound to give the Bluebirds hope.
Waiting For Vincent . . . Time Drags For Omer Riza As Cardiff City Hit Pause
Unfortunately for the hosts, Rovers would seal all three points as Lewis Baker beat the offside trap and placed his effort into the far bottom corner.
Blackburn manager John Eustace said: “I thought we were excellent. We played really good possession football and were clinical.
“We scored a fantastic first goal after about 40 passes. That goal was pure quality and the way we got up field was just outstanding.
“We knew we would come under pressure and defended in and around our box and the crosses coming in really well and then scored a second at the right time.
“We gave away a soft penalty which gave Cardiff a lifeline but the boys showed excellent character to get the third.
“We have a small squad with players unavailable, but the players coming off the bench really competed and showed the same fight to make a difference and get us through.
“That performance sums up what you have to do to get an away win in the Championship.”
