Cardiff City secured a vital three points in their fight against relegation with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over play-off contenders Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, easing the pressure on manager Omer Riza.
Goals from Yousef Salech and Yakou Meite sealed only Cardiff’s second away win of the season, while Rovers saw a late penalty decision overturned as their poor form under Valerien Ismael continued.
Bluebirds strike early but Rovers respond
With just five minutes on the clock, January signing Salech made an immediate impact, rising highest to head home Sivert Mannsverk’s pinpoint cross and give Cardiff the perfect start.
However, their lead lasted only 10 minutes as Emmanuel Dennis whipped in a dangerous delivery from the left, allowing Yuki Ohashi to nod in despite Ethan Horvath getting a touch on the ball.
Cardiff’s goalkeeper was called into action again before the break, making a fine save to deny Sondre Tronstad’s powerful effort as the hosts pushed forward.
Meite delivers the decisive moment
After an even opening to the second half, Riza’s tactical switch to a 4-2-3-1 system paid dividends, allowing Cardiff to push higher up the pitch. The change quickly reaped rewards as substitute Will Alves provided a pinpoint cross for Meite, who headed in with his first touch to restore Cardiff’s lead.
Alves continued to be a creative spark, setting up another golden chance for Meite late on, only for the striker’s shot to be blocked on the line.
Blackburn denied late penalty drama
Blackburn thought they had been handed a lifeline in stoppage time when referee Adam Herczeg pointed to the spot for what appeared to be a Callum O’Dowda handball. However, after consulting his assistant, Herczeg reversed the decision, ruling that Rovers forward Makhtar Gueye had actually handled the ball.
With that, Cardiff held firm to claim a crucial victory, lifting them one point clear of the relegation zone and reigniting their fight for survival.
“It was a much-needed win. Mentality and approach now is about getting the job done. To a man, the boys did that and we got the result we deserved.” – Cardiff City manager Omer Riza.
Writer’s view
Cardiff showed resilience and character to grind out a win when they needed it most. Riza’s side have struggled on the road, but this result could be the catalyst for a survival push. Blackburn, meanwhile, look a shadow of their early-season selves, and their top-six hopes are fading fast unless they can find a way to halt their slide.
