Oxford a game Cardiff 'need to win' - Riza

Omer Riza has described Cardiff City's meeting with fellow strugglers Oxford United as a game his side "need to win".

Cardiff will attempt to end an eight-game sequence without victory when they go to the Kassam Stadium for a meeting of two sides in the Championship relegation zone on Thursday, 26 December.

Oxford's form is miserable too, with the U's chasing a first win in eight and just a second in 17 matches.

Their poor run saw Des Buckingham lose his job earlier this month, with former Birmingham City, Stoke City and Millwall boss Gary Rowett taking charge of Oxford for the first time when Cardiff visit.

While all four of Oxford's league wins this season have come at home, Cardiff go in search of a first second-tier away triumph of the season at the 11th time of asking.

"Every game is a big game for us - whatever points we can pick up, that's what we need," Riza said.

"But this one, even more so. It's a big game. Two teams at the bottom trying to pick up points and it's one we need to win."

While they are still to win on their travels this season, Cardiff have drawn their last three away games, at Stoke, Coventry City and Sheffield Wednesday.

Riza, whose side face a tricky trip to Watford next Sunday, says that despite their record, the Bluebirds have played better on the road than they have at the Cardiff City Stadium.

"Obviously the game state changes with opposition away from home because the emphasis is more on them to win," he added.

"Potentially we can pick up more opportunities to counter-attack. I do feel our away performances have been better than our home performances.

"We haven't won away from home. I know it's a problem and it's something we are trying to fix."