Omer Riza believed the "moment got to the referee" after he brandished a red card to Callum Robinson, a moment which flipped the Cardiff City v Coventry City game on its head.

Cardiff had controlled the first half and took a one-goal lead into the break thanks to Alex Robertson's early strike. But Coventry scored seconds after the restart before Robinson was sent off for raising his arm to Bobby Thomas.

It came after referee James Durkin had to replace Geoff Eltringham due to an injury in the first half. Durkin had never refereed a Championship game before today and Riza proffered the theory that the occasion might have got to the official.

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"I'm frustrated," Riza said. "I think we dominated first half and had good control. My only one question for the players was that we could have punished a bit more, took the opportunities we created and put the game to bed.

"Second half, the goal that was conceded was cheap. We get muscled off the ball too easily and it's rebounded and scored from right after half-time when we'd had a good first half. We worked so hard so that's disappointing.

"Then to get the red card - and for me it wasn't a red card. If anyone thinks that's a red card then I'm a monkey's uncle. The arm is up, he has caught him, yellow card, yes. No malice in it at all. All due respect to the referee, it's his first Championship game. The moment maybe got to him and he wanted to make a big call and it was the wrong one. It's something we have to deal with.

"The resilience the players showed in the second half to fight and stay in the - and create big opportunities to score, like Ollie (Tanner) and Yak (Yakou Meite), it's credit to them. I think it's a big point.

"I spoke to the referees and told them what I told you. I don't hide anything. I spoke honestly and respectfully. The referee thought he saw it, when he looks back I think he'll look at it differently. I am hoping that will get overturned. I would like to appeal it."

Jesper Daland was visibly angry when he was substituted 10 minutes after Tatsuhiro Sakamoto's leveller. It came after Ellis Simms muscled the Norwegian off the ball far too easily, setting up the Japanese player for the goal. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

Daland has had a couple of wobbles in front of the home crowd - he shouldered some of the blame for both of Kieffer Moore's goals for Sheffield United - and he showed his frustration when he threw his substitutes' jacket to the ground after it was handed to him by the bench.

And Riza understands Daland's reaction, saying: "Jesper’s an honest lad, works really hard, he's respectful. I don’t see any disrespect to the coaches or to me.

"He’ll be really disappointed we conceded from something he should have cleaned up pretty easily. Ellis Simms has muscled him off the ball. That’s all that is.”

It's four points from six, but it still sees Cardiff just one place off the foot of the table as they head into a tough away trip to Middlesbrough.

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Riza added: "I'd like to think they have got the bit between the teeth at the minute. But there's a tough game coming up at Middlesbrough, we've exerted a lot of energy in this game. Hopefully the next two days we can rest, replenish and go again.

"They have got a very strong squad and invested a lot of money in their squad and they have good players in every area of the pitch and players who can come off the bench.

"It'll be a tough game, we know the threats they pose in attack, both when they have control and when they counter. They are things we have to look out for. Hopefully we can manage it and impart our own imprint on the game ourselves.

"What can you do other than keep working on the things you need to get better at? It's all going to be about how consistently we can do it. Whether we can show the intensity levels, to a man, game in, game out. Whether we have got the right attitude and character to replace and keep pushing. We did enough to win the game today but not enough to secure it. We got punished in the second half.

"We have picked up four points from six against Watford and this game today. Two really difficult games, or three difficult games including Middlesbrough. We need to move forwards with positive minds. We need to keep doing what we are doing, the players are showing belief and togetherness and we just need to make sure everyone is showing that, including the staff, players, club and fans. It means a lot. Everyone being together drives things forwards. That's what we need, I think January will be an important time.

"I'm well prepared. I know what I want. It's there, I'm ready. It's now just about getting it done. The board, myself and the club, hopefully we can get something done to elevate our performances and strength of the squad to go forwards and get out of this position."