Danny Gabbidon believes Cardiff City’s hard-fought victory over Millwall could change the course of their season.
Perry Ng’s goal saw the Bluebirds claim a first league win of 2024-25 at the eighth attempt.
Cardiff remain bottom of the Championship despite Tuesday’s triumph, but Gabbidon says the result will change the mood at his old club.
“It could turn their season around,” the former defender told BBC Radio Wales Sport.
“We have been talking about maybe a relegation dogfight already, but in this league you can go from six or seven games without a win to six or seven games unbeaten, then you are in a very different position.
“I have been in this situation myself where you don’t know where the next win is coming from.
“But they have gone out, puffed their chests out, we have seen some good individual performances, a good team performance and they have got the result. That will be massive for confidence.”
Cardiff sacked Erol Bulut last month having taken only one point from their first six league games of the new campaign.
Omer Riza’s first match as interim boss ended in a 4-1 defeat at Hull last weekend, but his team responded by battling to victory against Millwall.
“For Omer Riza to get a reaction like this – he will be absolutely delighted,” Gabbidon added.
“They have defended well and ended up getting the win with a really well-worked goal from a set-piece. I thought they deserved it.
“There will be smiles on faces in the dressing room and they will be looking forward to the next game.”
Riza said after Millwall that he does not know how long his spell in charge will last.
Cardiff go to Bristol City next, on Sunday, and Gabbidon says the Millwall triumph has bought the club time as they search for Bulut’s long-term replacement.
“If Omer Riza is getting results, it takes the pressure off the hierarchy a bit,” he said.
“They can take their time and they do need to get their decision right.”