Cardiff City interim boss Omer Riza has defended the tactical switch which saw his side revert to a back five prior to Bristol City’s equaliser during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate.
Despite going into the Severnside Derby bottom of the Championship table on four points, the Bluebirds made a good account of themselves as they frustrated City in the opening 45 minutes. After biding their time, Riza’s men took the lead through an excellent Ollie Tanner strike, nine minutes into the second period.
While Cardiff could’ve even found a second when Alex Robertson’s free-kick was stopped by Max O’Leary, the visitors reverted to a back five when centre-back Jesper Daland was brought on for winger Anwar El Ghazi, while Callum O’Dowda replaced Robertson on 66 minutes.
But the switch invited pressure on the Bluebirds and just eight minutes later, Luke McNally headed in an equaliser which settled the points at Ashton Gate.
Riza has defended the change in tactics after his side appeared to tire following three games in nine days.
He told Wales Online: “It’s our third game in seven days and the boys were getting tired. We felt there were pockets opening up in the middle of the pitch and we needed to make the changes to seal that.
“We had Daland on the bench who has come back from injury and is a centre-half who’s dominant in the air. We brought Callum on the left side because we thought players were getting tired. We went to a 5-4-1 if you like. We just didn’t stop enough of the crosses into the box.
“The goal has only come from us not clearing properly and it’s dropped in and they’ve scored off the back of it. We stopped one element, but not the other. Do I regret it? No, I don’t regret it. Because I feel sometimes, in the position we are in at the moment, we need to make sure we come away with a point today. We could have potentially lost the game and come away with nothing.
“It’s a good point. Yes, I am a front-footed, attack-minded coach, on another day I’d maybe like to go for it a little bit more, but where we are at, at the moment, I think it was the right thing to do.”
Riza was appointed on a temporary basis following manager Erol Bulut’s sacking more than a fortnight ago. Despite Cardiff sitting bottom of the Championship, the interim boss has picked up four points in three games since taking charge.
After a midweek 1-0 win over Millwall, the 44-year-old was once again pleased with the performance of his side at Ashton Gate on Sunday.
Riza added: “To go 1-0 up again is a good thing, a positive. Three games played and we have been up three times. We were very close to getting three points but fell short a little bit in respect of the chances we could have scored to alleviate pressure and also clearing the lines at the right time, not to allow balls into the box, could have been better.
“I think the boys are deflated because the result was in the palm of our hands. It’s four points from six in the last two games, which can only be a positive moving forwards.”