Cardiff cup tie togetherness a turning point - Riza

Boss Omer Riza reckons Cardiff City's Stoke City spirit could be a turning point for their season as they prepare to take on survival rivals Portsmouth.

The Bluebirds made it through to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in more than a decade when they beat the Potters on penalties and have been rewarded with a March trip to Premier League Aston Villa.

Cardiff have not been in the last-16 since 2014 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but – having thrown away a two goal lead at the Bet265 Stadium - booked their place after coming from behind to level the tie 3-3 before going through on spot kicks.

Riza knows full well, with his team still only three points above the drop zone, focus has to be on retaining the club's Championship status.

But he says not only does cup success propel the momentum built up since the turn of the year – with just one defeat in ten - but it underlines the unity now in the squad.

Cardiff's only loss since Boxing Day was the previous weekend's 7-0 trouncing at Leeds, but Riza said: "Leeds was disappointing and embarrassing to a certain extent - but it can happen. They were rampant on the day and punished every mistake; for me they will be champions unless they do something silly.

"But we've put a line under it. We came through extra time [at Stoke] and we will have to recover properly – but the togetherness it brought is more important. Coming through that on the pitch, the subs that were made, the starters, that togetherness can see us through to the end of the season.

"It could be a real big turning point for us; we're already doing well, but that togetherness we showed is really important."

Portsmouth – a place and a point behind the Bluebirds in 19th - welcome Cardiff to Fratton Park without a win in four, including a 5-1 defeat at West Brom.

But they did manage a goalless draw with promotion-chasing Burnley and were edged out by second-placed Sheffield United on Saturday.

"We have a game in hand but we will go there with no other intention other than to win," Riza said, who will again be absent from the touchline as part of a three-game ban for his red card against Swansea City.

"It's 11 years since we've gone this far in the cup, it brings the fans and the club together, but now we're focusing on what's coming on Tuesday,

"The cup is good for morale but it's about momentum and we want to be ready for league games.

"It will be a real tough battle, they've been very good at home - but we know what we've got to do."