Just as the last Christmas leftovers were being mopped up, Cardiff City fans could have been forgiven for feeling the festive blues more than many other supporters up and down the country.

After a dreadful Boxing Day display at Oxford United, which resulted in a 3-2 defeat at the Kassam, the Bluebirds were winless in nine matches and looked dead set for months in the bottom three.

Manager Omer Riza was under increasing pressure and the following game against Watford, his old stomping ground, had taken on far greater significance. A 2-1 win at Vicarage Road, however, sparked an eight-game unbeaten run and now suddenly, amid a promising transfer window so far, there is real positivity back among supporters once again.

READ MORE: Tonight's Cardiff City news as Ajax chief makes Mannsverk statement and Bulut offered new job

READ MORE: Swansea City accept bid for Matt Grimes as captain on brink of joining Coventry City

Here, we take a look at some of the key reasons behind Cardiff's upturn in form...

Players flourishing in new roles

Who would have thought defender Calum Chambers would be Cardiff's best midfielder and midfielder Andy Rinomhota would be starring for the Bluebirds' defence at the beginning of the season?

It's perhaps less of a surprise with Chambers, given he won player of the season for Fulham while being deployed as a central midfielder, but we were told in no uncertain terms that he was signed as a defensive option - either at centre-back or right-back.

But what a revelation he has been in the middle of the park. The bite and defensively-tactical awareness of Manolis Siopis with the calmness of an Alex Robertson while in possession, he is now virtually undroppable in that role. Cardiff have just signed Sivert Mannsverk on loan from Ajax and supporters are adamant that he will be brought in to complement Chambers, rather than replace him. And few would argue with that right now.

Similarly, Rinomhota at right-back has been simply fantastic. Remember, this is a player who was deemed surplus to requirements a year ago, sent out on loan to Rotherham United, who eventually suffered relegation, and many thought his future was elsewhere in the summer. What a stroke of genius it has been to keep him around and deploy him in a new role. He looks re-energised and reinvigorated on the right-hand side of defence.

The Zimbabwe international offers a real robustness, with the strength to muscle off attackers at ease, ample pace and a natural positional awareness. He isn't keeping a mug out of the team, either, because back-to-back player of the season winner Perry Ng has either had to bide his time on the bench or hop across to left back to get game time.

It's been a brilliant month for the two of them and long may that continue. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

Breakout star shines

This was always meant to be Cian Ashford's breakout season, although six weeks ago it certainly didn't look like that. It's testament to the Wales youth international for grabbing his chance with both hands.

It all started on that Boxing Day trip to Oxfordshire, when he grabbed what turned out to be a consolation goal in the defeat, but that strike might just have ignited something within him which has seen him embark on a tremendous run of form.

The Rhondda product has always been earmarked as one of the most talented players to have been produced by the academy in recent years, but the last 12 months or so he seems to have filled out in size and fits the physical stature of a Championship player. All that was needed was reps and to see the ball hit the back of the net a couple of times in order for him to be set free.

Take his goal against Sheffield United in the FA Cup as a case in point. Brimming with confidence, with the full backing of the manager, he pounced on a mistake from Rhys Norrington-Davies and drove at goal for 40 yards before striking the ball coolly past Adam Davies in at the near post - it was calmness personified. Not many players in Cardiff's squad would have been able to score that goal, that's for certain.

It's three goals and two assists for the 20-year-old since Boxing Day and he has emerged as a real threat off the wing, something have really struggled with in recent years.

Main man emerges

Cardiff finally have a striker capable of getting into double figures again! And there is plenty of the season to go, too.

Callum Robinson has always been a goal threat, no matter who he has played for, and given Cardiff's struggles with that striker position in recent years, it's been a source of real positivity for supporters to see their main forward hitting the back of the net with regularity this season.

Another player, like Rinomhota, who struggled under Erol Bulut - indeed, Wilfried Kanga was the preferred option up top at the start of the campaign - but Robinson's visibly wonderful relationship with Omer Riza has almost certainly played a part in him coming into red-hot form in recent months.

The Republic of Ireland international has 11 goals in 23 Championship games this season, but started only one match before Riza took the reins. He has become the main man for Cardiff and is now indispensable.

Cardiff have 12 players out of contract this summer, a large portion of whom they could live without next term, but Robinson offers something the club have found so hard to sign - goals. Regular goals at Championship level.

It would be wise for Cardiff to make him a credible offer, or handcuff him to a locker in the changing room if they must, in order to make him stay beyond June. However they do it - they simply can't let him leave in the summer.

WHATSAPP: Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community

New coach bounce

It would be remiss not to mention Cardiff's record since bringing on board a new assistant coach in Richard Shaw.

Riza needed a familiar face around him. He was battling on too many fronts, endured far too much uncertainty for too long, faced a relegation battle and had a crucial transfer window just around the corner. He needed help.

Shaw worked alongside Riza at Watford and has started life tremendously well since joining the Bluebirds. Cardiff have lost just one game - that one at Oxford - since the assistant was appointed back in December. Just how much credit he can take for that is unknown at the minute, but he's clearly had a positive impact, the proof is in the pudding.

The new manager bounce is a well-known trope for an upturn in results, but perhaps a little mid-season freshen up on the coaching staff has had a similar effect.

Of course Riza deserves praise, too. He was really under the pump at the end of 2024 and while he - and Cardiff - is by no means out of the woods yet, there have been big strides made - including a thumping win over arch-rivals Swansea - and the manager has shown great character and has carried himself well throughout.

Leeds United represents a tough away fixture this weekend, but the games which follow - Portsmouth, Bristol City, Plymouth Argyle and Hull City - will go a long way to cementing in which division Cardiff will play their football next season.