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Swansea v Cardiff
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Competition - Sky Bet Championship
Venue - Swansea.com Stadium
Date - 25 August 2024
Kick off - 3pm
Following their workmanlike home victory over Preston, next up for Luke Williams’ Swansea squad is a home fixture against South Wales rivals Cardiff City.
Last Saturday, a vastly improved attacking display helped the Swans outplay managerless Preston to mark their first home game of the Championship season with a comprehensive victory.
The Swans started off very much on the front foot, and after missing a handful of chances, took a well-earned first-half lead thanks to Matt Grimes’ emphatic penalty.
Preston improved after the interval and came close to equalising when Ryan Ledson’s shot was deflected narrowly over, while the visitors also appealed for a penalty when it looked as if Harry Darling possibly handled the ball.
However, the Swans then doubled their advantage as substitute Azeem Abdulai diverted Ollie Cooper’s goal-bound effort into the net, before new signing Zan Vipotnik came off the bench to score his first goal for the club with a close-range finish from Ronald’s cross.
Whilst the Swans were beating Preston, Burnley were maintaining their winning start to the Championship season as they punished a series of Cardiff mistakes to thump the Bluebirds 5-0.
Ethan Horvath’s nightmare own goal gifted the Clarets the lead after nine minutes as a routine backpass slipped under the goalkeeper's foot, before rash defending by Dimitrios Goutas allowed Jay Rodriguez space to cross as Luca Koleosho smashed home a second.
Any hopes of a Cardiff revival in the second half were dashed when Vitinho’s pass split the Bluebirds’ defence wide open and allowed Josh Brownhill to race through and finish.
Burnley were not done and scored two spectacular late goals as Zeki Amdouni and Johann Berg Gudmundsson lashed home.
The Swans have played the Bluebirds on 76 previous occasions (in matches under ‘English’ auspices), winning 34, drawing 18 and losing 24.
In the corresponding match last season, the Swans ran out 2-0 winners with goals from Liam Cullen and Jamal Lowe:
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In some respects, having the South Wales derby so early in the season is ridiculous, with neither side yet ‘settled’ into the season and the transfer window still open - that said, it’s the same for both sides and ‘it is what it is’.
Oliver Langford will be the referee on Sunday.
Langford is now in his 14th season as a Football League referee, having made his debut in August 2008 in the League Two clash between Rochdale and Barnet.
The official from the west Midlands travelled to SA1 twice last season, taking charge of the home matches against Bristol City and Southampton.
Having been refereeing since 1995, Langford was promoted to the List of Referees in 2008. When Select Group 2 was introduced by PGMOL ahead of the 2016-17 season, he was one of 18 referees added to that list.
He has taken charge of two play-off semi-finals and the 2017 FA Youth Cup final. Despite not being named a Select Group Official, he is VAR trained and can be part of officiating teams at Premier League level.
He will be assisted by Andrew Fox and Alex James. Keith Stroud will be the fourth official.
Both Swansea and Cardiff have been active in the transfer market since their last matches: Cardiff have signed Norwegian under-21 defender Jesper Daland and are hoping to complete the signing of defender Will Fish for a reported £2m from Manchester United.
Meanwhile, the Swans are expected to sign Nelson Abbey and Florian Bianchini after Luke Williams revealed that the club will sign a centre-back and a winger before Sunday’s derby against Cardiff City.
Defender Abbey, who is likely to join on a season-long loan, will provide much-needed competition for current first-choice pairing Ben Cabango and Harry Darling, whilst in France suggest that Bianchini, who plays for French second-tier club Bastia, is the wide player that the Swans are targeting. The 23-year-old Frenchman could join on a permanent deal.
On the injuries front, the Swans have been boosted by news that Joe Allen is fit for Sunday.
The vastly experienced midfielder is yet to play this season after picking up a toe injury in pre-season.
For Cardiff, Aaron Ramsey has shrugged off the injury he sustained against Burnley and is fit to start.
However, Cardiff club captain Joe Ralls is doubtful as he looks to chalk up his eighth South Wales derby.
The midfielder played only 35 minutes against Burnley before being replaced because of hip and groin trouble by Wales international Rubin Colwill.
League positions don’t mean too much when it comes to the South Wales derby, and, in my humble opinion, they mean even less with just 2 Championship matches played: the Swans may be 7th going into the weekend and Cardiff may be bottom of the table but that won’t matter an iota at 3pm on Sunday.
As for the outcome, I’ve a feeling that the Swans won’t repeat the 2-0 home wins of the last couple of seasons, and that the sides will play out a 1-1 draw.
Hope I’m wrong and that the Swans will prevail
I 
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