Cardiff City manager Omer Riza called the result “exactly what we needed” and praised Callum Robinson after the Bluebirds secured a vital 2-1 victory against fellow Championship relegation battlers Derby County. The result sees Cardiff move up to 18th, four points clear of the relegation zone, now occupied by Derby. And Riza acknowledged how vital the result was to his side. “This was a really important game,” Riza said.

Cardiff City will look to Yousef Salech to help drag the club further away from the relegation zone this weekend. The striker scored a last minute equaliser on his debut in midweek – a goal that not only rescued a point for the Bluebirds, but suggested there will be more to come.

The Football Association of Wales have expressed their “disappointment” at the decision of the English FA to crush plans that Welsh clubs could find a route into Europe through a new Welsh cup competition. Hopes of Welsh Football League clubs to get into Europe were dashed, after the FA blocked attempts to allow clubs playing in the EFL to participate in the Welsh League Cup.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson admitted he was left frustrated by his team’s inability to eat into Birmingham City’s five-point lead over the Dragons at the top of League One. Parkinson watched his team go 1-0 up at home to the leaders, but Birmingham struck back to claim a 1-1 draw, which leaves Wrexham back in third place in the table.

Aaron Ramsey turned up for training at Cardiff City for the first time in four months this week as he pushes to get back into action after a lengthy hamstring injury. The Wales skipper has been plagued by injury since returning to his home town club in the summer of 2023 and has only managed four appearances this season.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has been charged with misconduct by the Football Association after being sent off against derby rivals Swansea City. Riza was shown a red card in the final moments of Cardiff’s 3-0 Sky Bet Championship win on Saturday after tangling with Swansea midfielder Goncalo Franco on the touchline and encroaching on to the pitch.

Cardiff City manager Omer Riza praised his players’ fighting spirit after they came from 2-0 down to grab a precious point at Millwall. Bluebirds substitute Yousef Salech is up and running for his new club after he equalised with three seconds of stoppage time remaining as Cardiff snatched a 2-2 draw. The point means Cardiff are now unbeaten in seven matches – their best form of the season – and have moved two points clear of the relegation zone, up to 19th place in the Championship table.

Luke Williams insists Swansea City have recovered their pride after their derby day disaster, even though another defeat has left them as close to the relegation places as they are to the play-offs. The Swans lost 2-1 at home to Sheffield United, who moved back to the top of the Championship, but gave a display in marked contrast to their weak showing at Cardiff City last weekend. But they also gave away a soft equaliser after half-time and then had Harry Darling sent off for a reckless challenge near the halfway line.

Former Swansea City star Jonjo Shelvey has returned to the UK to sign for Championship promotion-chasers Burnley. The former Newcastle United and England midfielder has agreed a short-term deal running until the end of the season.

Ben Davies has returned to fitness in a boost for Wales, but failed to inspire Tottenham Hotspur as they crashed to defeat at Everton. The Wales captain recovered from a hamstring injury to play his first match for two months, handing Wales manager Craig Bellamy with welcome news ahead of the World Cup qualifiers in March.

Callum Robinson proved once again he is the main matchwinner for Cardiff City as he returned to net two goals for the Bluebirds in their 3-0 triumph over Swansea City in the South Wales derby. Robinson missed his club’s last three games through suspension following a red card against Coventry City, but he announced his return to the team with two brilliant left-footed strikes. Added to Dimitrios Goutas’ header, it was enough to give Cardiff an emphatic victory and  riposte to those who felt this fixture has meant more to their rivals in recent years.

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.