Cardiff City manager Omer Riza has admitted his side ‘have a mountain to climb’ in order to avoid relegation to League One.
The Bluebirds find themselves in the bottom three heading into the final four games of the season. They blew a huge opportunity to ease their relegation fears on Saturday when they hosted fellow strugglers Stoke City at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Entering the game on a four match unbeaten run, a victory would have seen them move above the Potters. However, a late own goal from Will Fish saw the three points head to Staffordshire.
Although they had been tough to beat in recent weeks, Cardiff had drawn their previous three encounters. With Derby County drawing at Portsmouth, they sit one point from safety, whilst also having a vastly inferior goal difference.
Riza Not Giving Up
The Welsh-based have a tough run-in, starting with a trip to Bramall Lane to face promotion chasers Sheffield United on Good Friday. They then host Oxford United on Easter Monday before finishing the season with a home tie against West Bromwich Albion and an away day against Norwich City.
The writing appears to be on the wall, with Riza admitting they have a mountain to climb. However, the 45-year-old is not prepared to go down without a fight. Speaking after Saturday’s game, he said:
“I’m disappointed for the fans and the club.
“We tried to go for it as much as we could, but we didn’t really create any big chances.
“We’ve got four massive games left, but the last 10 have been important. We’ve now got a mountain to climb. There is still an opportunity, still a chance and still belief.
“I have to be confident. If you have no belief you have nothing. But we have to match it with performance and points. We haven’t managed to do that, but we still have four games and it is not over yet.”
Writer’s View
The gap is only one point but it’s difficult to see where Cardiff pick up any wins from their remaining four games. Oxford would appear to be their best chance but the likelihood is they’re going to need at least two victories to survive due to their poor goal difference. Still, if they can match their form of the four games prior to Saturday’s defeat, where they picked up six points, they have a chance.
