Cardiff told to focus with 'twists and turns' ahead

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Cardiff City could find themselves bottom of the Championship before they kick off against Sheffield United on Friday (17:30 BST) with rivals going head-to-head earlier in the day.

But Cardiff's plan is to have Derby County and Hull City in their sights by the time Monday's fixtures come along, with the two teams currently above the Bluebirds being mentioned as targets by manager Omer Riza.

Cardiff are currently in 22nd, a point off safety, with only Luton Town and Plymouth Argyle below them in the table.

Luton go to Derby in the lunchtime kick-off on Friday knowing a win would see them leapfrog Riza's side.

Then Plymouth – buoyed by last weekend's surprise win over Sheffield United – head to Middlesbrough (15:00 BST).

Boro, in eighth place, are still firmly in the play-off hunt but have lost their past two matches.

An away win for Argyle would increase the pressure on Cardiff when they step out at Bramall Lane.

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Cardiff City have failed to win any of their past four matches [Getty Images]

Yet Bluebirds players have been told to keep minds on their job as they attempt to retain their second-tier status.

"Everyone's aware what the scores are elsewhere when it's a later kick-off, but it's just about us managing our situation and performing the best we can," said Riza.

"We can't look at other games and think it's going to help us or not."

When asked which teams above Cardiff in the table he views as being part of the relegation fight, Riza did not discount the likes of Stoke City, Oxford United and Portsmouth.

But he said: "It's probably looking like us, Hull, Derby. That's probably it, if I'm being honest. But there's four games and 12 points and a lot of twists and turns to come yet and we have to focus on our own games.

"I am not looking at what [points total] I think it's going to take, what we need to do or might need to do. We are just going to have to stay present and stay in the moment, that's what's important now.

"If you start looking at what you might need, negative thoughts can lead to other pressures."

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