The Championship table since Cardiff City sacked Erol Bulut and appointed Omer Riza | OneFootball

Football League World takes a closer look at Cardiff City's upturn under Omer Riza, who replaced Erol Bulut back in September

Omer Riza's tenure at Cardiff City to date has not been without difficulty and division, with the 45-year-old having been initially instated to lead the relegation-threatened Championship side on an interim basis.

Remarkably, Riza held that position for more than two months before, following much deliberation and amid significant supporter backlash, Cardiff finally decided to hand him the keys to become Erol Bulut's permanent successor back in December, agreeing a full-time contract to run until the end of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

The decision to appoint Riza permanently was viewed as ill-timed, as Cardiff held off the call during an emphatic six-match unbeaten run across October and the start of November but then appointed the ex-Watford coach in the midst of a more difficult patch of form.

All in all, Riza has been in charge of 23 Championship fixtures for Cardiff this season. The Bluebirds are currently 18th in the division, having been lifted amid an ongoing seven-match running streak in league action, but the make-up of the second-tier table since Riza first took over all the way back in September makes for interesting reading...

The Championship league table since Omer Riza replaced Erol Bulut at Cardiff City

For the time being, the Bluebirds remain in a battle against relegation to League One. But that's no such slight on Riza, as Cardiff have improved following his appointment and look to have a strong chance at remaining in the league after appearing very much doomed under Bulut.

The Turkish boss, who guided the side to a 12th-placed finish last time out, had lost five of his first six league games in charge of the season before receiving his marching orders in the wake of City's 2-0 home defeat to Leeds United on September 21, with Cardiff left rooted to the foot of the league table and with an alarming goal differential record to overturn.

While Riza's stay at Cardiff has been far from perfect - as he would likely admit himself - they have been considerably better under his tuition, both in terms of playing style and, crucially, results.

The Championship table since his appointment has Cardiff steadily in mid-table, which is sure to be the target come May and would have to be considered a relative success in light of the disastrous fashion they started the season in.

With all 29 matches weighed in, the proper league table has Cardiff four points above the drop zone. Since Riza, though, City have a remarkable 11-point cushion over 22nd-placed Luton Town and are six points shy of Middlesbrough, who occupy the league's final play-off spot by this metric - which certainly reflects well on the Bluebirds boss.

Omer Riza deserves credit at Cardiff City

Riza is deserving of plaudits for the job he is doing in the Welsh capital, which is evidenced, of course, by the league position Cardiff would - theoretically at least - be in since his appointment.

For a side which has spent much of the campaign in a relegation battle owing to the abysmal form under Bulut, being in a comfortable mid-table position but just six points shy of the play-offs while eleven above the relegation zone is pretty impressive, all things considered.

But when you also factor in Riza has implemented a more attack-minded style of play largely in line with the talented, if underperforming and ill-used squad he inherited while reinvigorating the likes of Andy Rinomhota, Callum Chambers and Cian Ashford in either new, or more prominent roles in the side, his time at Cardiff has been more successful than one may imagine and that could encourage the club to assess his future beyond this season.