Cardiff City boss Omer Riza says the Bluebirds' position in the Championship might mean they have to focus on the loan market in January with players reluctant to join a club battling relegation. The Welsh club slipped to 23rd after a 3-2 defeat by Oxford United and are now three points adrift of safety.

"We can't afford to make the mistakes that we made, or not show the urgency that you need to show to shut players down and stop things from progressing."

New Oxford manager Gary Rowett enjoyed a winning start to his reign with a 3-2 victory over fellow Championship strugglers Cardiff.

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,

Follow live coverage as Oxford United face Cardiff City in the Championship today. An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.