Swansea v Cardiff 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: 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
2-1 Swans. Got to win this one as my bother in law (Cardiff City fan) is coming down to stay for the weekend.
Excellent thread Taff Although my heart ruled my prediction on our board, I can't see us winning this. A draw at best though I fear the worst. On current form, Ralls being out is a bigger miss for us than Ramsey would be. Anyway, let's hope for a good game with well behaved fans.
Hope we smash’em, but I think this fixture is due a draw game. Hasn’t been many draws between us recently with us winning all the time ya know I Defeat is unthinkable - let’s hope we win and continue in the vein of our last 2 games by scoring 3 goals.
Swansea City have signed Olympiakos’ England Under-20s international centre-back Nelson Abbey on loan for the rest of the season. Abbey, 20, left Reading to join Olympiakos for an undisclosed fee in January, when the Royals needed funds due to their financial problems. But the Reading-born player has now been allowed to join Swansea with Olympiakos keen for him to play Championship football. “I think his signing makes us a stronger squad," said Swansea head coach Luke Williams. “He has key performance data that we really like in terms of being able to recover the ground behind him, because we are often very high up the pitch.”
Good write up Taff. Have to agree with you that the game comes too soon for both sides. Ordinarily I'd say this should be a tough one to call but it's been a long time since I went into one of these games feeling in the slightest bit confident. Last season was probably the closest we came to looking likely victors at your place given the respective positions and form at the time, and of course with the pressure eased slightly on us after our win at the CCS, but as we know, the game turned into anything but an easy ride for us and we barely got a look in. Hoping for at least a draw but think we'll have to be very focused to achieve that. may the best team win....... (Please let it be us, please let it be us..... )
Thanks Taff. Well who knows what will happen on Sunday. As Taff says there are various factors such as it being just the third game, both sides are still looking for a settled team plus of course it being the local derby which make the result unpredictable. I would like to think home advantage will see the Swans take 3 points but you can also see the other lot getting a goal from a silly defensive mistake and holding out for a 1-0. So I will go for a 1-1.
Wow a French man with an Italian name, lets hope he has the pace for some good wing play, spot the 'white man'....
I am going for the same outcome as neveroffside, 2-1 Swans, definitely a win tomorrow, I'll stake my reputation on it! I know not much to put up....
Unlike yours truly , this never seems to age. Matures just like a vintage bottle of Gevrey Chambertin.
