Omer Riza

Riza post-Stoke City | An improved performance

Interviews
Omer Riza spoke to the media after the Bluebirds came close to collecting three points away at Stoke City, but were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw.

"We're disappointed to come away with only a point." Omer began. "We needed a reaction from the Preston game; we've got that today, I feel.

"All the players, to a man, were excellent - from the players who started to the players who came on. We just didn't quite do enough to secure that win.

"The Preston game was the worst performance we've had since I've been in charge - and I wasn't happy with it at all. I made the players aware of that, and they knew that themselves.

"We went away to Coventry and we should have won that game, we've come away today and we should have won this game.

"The performance was better. There's still work to do, of course, but we're under pressure and we need points. That's what I'm disappointed about more than anything today; we needed three points and we didn't get it."

Omer Riza

Omer made five changes to the starting XI, and praised the response of the group since Wednesday's home defeat.

He said: "The players are all honest with eachother. They know that I mean the best for them, and I always will do. It was a great reaction, and we needed it, but we're disappointed not to get three points that we really need.

"We've got a squad of players; everyone is working hard and everyone will get the opportunity to play, if we feel it's the right opportunity and the right timing.

"The boys that have come in today worked really hard and put on a good performance. The boys that didn't start had to come on and make a difference, so I'm happy with that."

Omer Riza

The boss also provided an update on Perry Ng and David Turnbull, who were both missing from the matchday squad.

"Perry has got a problem with his hamstring. We will assess where he is at. Dave Turnbull has had an operation on his hamstring as well, so he's a long-term injury now.

"We've got a few injuries now, and the squad is a little bit thin at the moment. But, the boys are doing a great job to maintain the levels that we need in order to try and get something in games."

Watch more from Omer and Joe Ralls on Cardiff City TV.