Preview | Cardiff City (A)
The Game
Cardiff City v Argyle. Cardiff City Stadium. Saturday, 19 October. 12.30pm. Sky Bet Championship.
The Opposition
Cardiff City are bottom of the Sky Bet Championship table, with five points from nine games. The Bluebirds began with two defeats, to Sunderland and Burnley, before a draw away at South Wales rivals Swansea City. Three more losses, to Middlesbrough, Derby County and Leeds United, was enough for the City board to dismiss head coach Erol Bulut.
Omer Riza has since been in caretaker charge, and has overseen a 4-1 loss at Hull City, a 1-0 home win against Millwall, and a draw at Bristol City.
The Gaffer
Omer Riza, 44, began his career with Arsenal, and later West Ham United, but did not play a senior league game for either side. He was loaned to Barnet and Cambridge United, joining the latter on a permanent basis. He moved to Denizlispor and Trabzonspor, in Turkey, before returning to play for Shrewsbury Town, and a host of non-league sides.
Having had a stint as manager of former club Cheshunt, Riza was a coach at Leyton Orient, briefly promoted to the top job, but unable to stop struggling Orient from being relegated to the National League. He has since had jobs with Watford, being promoted through the academy to the first-team coaching staff, and England Under-16s and Under-17s. He joined Cardiff as a coach in the summer.
The Squad
Defender Perry Ng has played all nine of Cardiff’s league games this season, scoring one goal. The former Crewe full-back has passed 150 games for Cardiff, having reached 182 with his former club. He has been Cardiff’s player of the year for the past two seasons.
Also an ever-present this season is Calum Chambers. Now 29, Chambers came through at Southampton and earned a move to Premier League giants Arsenal, for whom he played 122 games over eight seasons. In 2014, he played three times for England. Having had loans at Middlesbrough and Fulham, he joined Aston Villa, where he stayed until this summer, when he joined Cardiff.
Cardiff have scored just four league goals this season, two coming from Callum Robinson. Forward Robinson is in his third season with Cardiff, having largely been a squad player during his time there. Three of his first four appearances this season were as a substitute, but he has started the last three games. Robinson is a former Aston Villa, Preston North End, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion man, who also has 38 caps for Ireland.
Last Season’s Meetings
Argyle drew 2-2 at the Cardiff City Stadium on Boxing Day 2023. Argyle led through Morgan Whittaker, but fell behind after an own-goal by Matt Butcher, and a Karlan Grant goal. Whittaker then equalised to take home a point.
At Home Park, three weeks later, the Greens won 3-1. Whittaker was again on the scoresheet, this time adding the final goal, following a double by Ryan Hardie.
Tickets
Away tickets have sold out for this match, with 3,200 Greens expected to be in attendance at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Click here for a full ticket update - including information on on-the-day collections.
A Strip for the Trip
Argyle will wear their white away kit for this game.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin at 10am, with the Argyle Breakfast show, hosted by Erin Black and Aaron Cusack. They will bring you build-up, interviews, guests and features from the Argyle TV studio, until 11am.
Erin and Aaron will return at midday for the pre-match show, before handing over to the ground for commentary provided by Charlie Price and Jon Beswetherick.
Match passes to watch this game are available only to certain international audiences. Click here for more information.
Sky Sports
The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+.
