Calum Chambers is loving turning back the clock and reinventing himself as a midfield player. The former Arsenal and England centre back star has rekindled his dream to make the grade as a midfielder at Cardiff City this season and is still frustrated he didn’t get a crack at his favoured role at The Emirates after returning from a successful loan season at Fulham. He has been moved up the pitch by Bluebirds boss Omer Riza since Christmas and since then his relegation-threatened side haven’t lost.

Omer Riza was not in charge of Cardiff City for the last South Wales derby, but he insists he knows all about the rivalry with Swansea City. Riza actually held the Bluebirds’ post-match press conference back in August after the 1-1 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium. But that was only because the then assistant manager’s own boss, Erol Bulut, was sent off after a push-and-shove contest with some of the Swans’ players over a ball that had gone out of play.

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.

Cardiff City’s reward for beating Sheffield United is another away trip for the fourth round of the FA Cup – to Stoke City. The Bluebirds – the only Welsh club left in the tournament after Swansea City lost 3-0 at Southampton – overcame Championship high-fliers Sheffield United last Thursday night and then had to wait until Sunday evening to learn of their opponents in the next round.

Luke Williams admitted Swansea City were deservedly dumped out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle after a one-sided defeat at Southampton. The Swans lost 3-0 and offered little in the way of resistance against a team struggling to win a game in the Premier League.

You need to have shown admirable patience if you’re interested in Swansea City’s FA Cup progress this season. The Swans do not begin their Cup campaign until late Sunday afternoon at 4.30pm – the penultimate fixture of the third round – when they visit Southampton.

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.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza insists he is still in love with the magic of the FA Cup – only maybe not on a Thursday night. The old tournament reaches its third round stage this week, a familiar landmark in the sporting calendar and one that has always been neatly squeezed between New Year hangovers and the start of rugby’s Six Nations.

Omer Riza wants “three or four” new players in the January transfer window as he bids to keep Cardiff City in the Championship. The Bluebirds manager has confirmed moves have been made to sign Peterborough United forward Ricky-Jade Jones – whose blistering pace and proven goal-scoring record have caught the Bluebirds’ attention – but the net is being cast wider.

Former Swansea City head coach Graham Potter is poised to be named as the new manager of West Ham. The Hammers are close to appointing Potter, with Julen Lopetegui set to be informed of his sacking on Wednesday morning.

Rob Edwards has claimed the footballing gods are against his Luton Town side after they were beaten 2-1 at Queens Park Rangers to deepen their relegation fears. But it could soon be the former Wales defender own club who move against him as pressure mounts on the manager who took them into the Premier League the season before last.

David Brooks has been told he can continue to play a huge part in Bournemouth’s stunning climb up the Premier League. The Wales midfielder earned rave reviews for his superb winner that helped the Cherries beat Everton 1-0 at the Vitality Stadium at the weekend.

Calum Chambers has again been hailed as vital to Cardiff City’s hopes of climbing away from relegation trouble. Bluebirds manager Omer Riza praised Chambers before his team’s trip to Middlesbrough at the weekend and was full of admiration for him afterwards following his stunning strike in a 1-1 draw.

Joe Allen has been labelled as a pure footballer after rescuing a point for Swansea City which keeps them on the outskirts of the play-off race. The Wales veteran came off the bench to score in the 93rd minute as he headed home the equaliser to earn his side an unlikely share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against West Brom.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has praised Calum Chambers’ switch from defender to midfielder and insists the transformation could be key to the club’s hopes of pulling away from the Championship relegation zone. Bluebirds boss Riza has praised the 29-year-old’s performances in his new role, calling him “excellent” after his displays in recent matches against Watford and Coventry.

Luke Williams has told Swansea City fans there is more chance of him “drinking in Uplands with the Jack Army” at the end of the season than of him being the manager of West Bromwich Albion. In a clear rebuttal of the suggestion he is in line to become Albion’s new boss – issued on the eve of a clash between the two clubs at the Swansea.com Stadium – the Swans head coach has pledged his future to his current club. But Williams has also apologised to fans for not killing off the rumours at an earlier stage, given that he was odds-on favourite to succeed Carlos Corberan on Friday morning.

Phil Parkinson is set to reach an extraordinary milestone this weekend, managing his 1,000th professional game as Wrexham face Peterborough United at the Racecourse Ground. The 57-year-old manager has carved out an impressive career spanning over two decades, beginning with his first game in charge of Colchester United in March 2003, a 4-1 victory against Port Vale at Layer Road.

Aaron Ramsey’s future at Cardiff City looks uncertain after manager Omer Riza admitted injuries were undermining his Wales star. Riza has revealed that Ramsey’s succession of injuries have delayed his comeback plans because they have torpedoed his schedule.

Swansea City manager Luke Williams admitted West Brom are unlikely to come calling after his side were routed 4-0 by Portsmouth. Williams is the bookmakers’ favourite to take the vacant Baggies job after Carlos Corberan was appointed Valencia manager on Christmas Eve.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza plans to appeal the red card handed out to Callum Robinson by replacement referee James Durkin in his side’s 1-1 home draw with Coventry City. The Bluebirds dominated the first half and opened the scoring within six minutes with a goal from Alex Robertson.