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Game #16 sees the Bluebirds making the short trip West to visit our little cousins down the road and hoping to avoid a 3rd defeat in a row and bounce back from what have been 2 disappointing results on the spin for differing reasons. Last Saturday's defeat to Coventry came a little out of the blue and was admittedly a poor performance by the Bluebirds, but Wednesday's defeat at QPR came amidst controversy, with the City reduced to 10 men after just 18 minutes and conceding a penalty to boot to go behind. The subsequent viewing of the incident that set the tone for the night and the successful appeal of J B Simpson's red card point towards our team once again having been hard done by.
In truth, would any of us really want this to be the game that we faced next in a bid to avoid 3 bad results on the trot? In recent years the West Walians appear to have held a bit of an Indian sign over us and of course last season needs no real mention (don't want to trigger anyone's PTSD) but of course it would be ungracious of me not to mention the fact that for the first time in the history of this fixture, a double was completed (or a doube as it is apparently known down West).
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Good to see the literacy lessons are working well in Swansea.
Our undoubtedly gracious hosts come into the game in fine form, having won 5 of their last 6. There was a momentry blip away at Burnley when a heavy defeat and a red card for talismanic striker Joel Piroe appeared to have knocked them out of their stride, however, by hook or by crook they bounced back and overturned a 2-0 deficit v Reading to win 3-2 in their last outing.
It would appear that defensively they are a little vulnerable but gong forward they seem have found their groove and have been scoring regularly, recording impressive wins away at the likes of Watford and West Brom in the process.
Main striker Piroe's red card at Burnley has ruled him out for this clash but Michael Obafemi (back in favour after a summer contract wrangle and aborted move to Burnley) and Harry Darling have also been amongst the goals.
Matt Grimes appears to be one of the chief supply lines with 4 assists this season so far, so could be one to try to shackle once the game is underway (if we can do it before kick off then all the better).
The corresponding fixture last season saw the Bluebirds suffer a 3-0 defeat and in the head to head on this fixtures history, our little cousins also have the edge by some way, with 31 wins to the Bluebirds 23. 18 games have been drawn.
Over the years there have been a few rip roaring games and some memorable goals for the Bluebirds. Craig Bellamy's curler from distance in 2011 at the then named Liberty Stadium, Michael Chopra's late winner in 2010, but for sheer entertainment and brilliance (as well as having a touch of nostalgia about it) I think we'd be hard pressed to equal this game and a screamer from John Buchanan at Ninian Park in 1980.
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Early Bluebirds Team News
All eyes will be on whether Perry Ng has recovered from his knock that meant he had to go off at half time v the Hoops on Wednesday. If he is ruled out then the hope must be that Mahlon Romeo is fit enough to play, otherwsie we face the prospect of Daley-Campbell coming in at right back again despite his somewhat mixed showing v Coventry.
After having his dreadful red card overturned, J B Simpson is likely to partner Cedric Kipre in defence once again and the midfield will potentially get another shake up. In all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised if we see a return to a wing back formation with O'Dowda and possible Romeo tasked with getting up and down the flanks where possible.
Up top Robinson will again be first choice but may we see a front 2 in the hope of pressing a shaky Swansea back line?
Prutton Predicts
It's no surprise to see Davey boy tipping the home team for a relatively comfortable win by a 2-0 margin.
I know they say form goes out of the window for derby games but it's hard to see the Bluebirds getting anything out of this match in truth.
The bookies too favour such a result with odds as follows;
Home Win 11/10 Draw 23/10 Away Win 5/2
Sharing The Love (of sorts)
Obviously given the close proximity of the two teams there have been many players that have pulled on the jersey of both teams. I have therefore decided to pick out a select few that, as far as I am aware, actually do garner fond memories for both sets of fans.
A special mention though goes to Frank Burrows, having managed both teams and gaining success at both.
Appointed manager at Cardiff City in May 1986, Burrows arrived to a Cardiff side demoralised by two successive relegations under former manager Alan Durban that had left the club in the bottom rung of the Football League. Burrows brought in his own coaching staff, including former City manager Jimmy Goodfellow, Bobby Smith and Gavin Tait, and set to work revitalising a side that had dropped to new depths.
Burrows managed to lead City to promotion in the 1987–88 season, but the side struggled in the old Third Division and following disagreements with the board of directors, Burrows resigned in August 1989. Later that year, he returned to Portsmouth as assistant manager to John Gregory, before being appointed manager in 1990. However, he left the following year after a string of poor performances. Burrows then arrived at Swansea City in March 1991, and enjoyed a productive four-year spell as manager of the Swans. Whilst at Swansea he led them to victory in the 1994 Football League Trophy Final.[1] However, a falling out with the board led to Burrows departure in July 1995, being succeeded in the position by his assistant, Bobby Smith.
Frank sadly passed away in 2021 at the age of 77.
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Frankie Burrows and his famous flat cap
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Tough game ahead, but I can't leave us without some positivity, so how about a few words from our stand in gaffer... over to you Huds;
"This game means everything,” Huds stated. "The recent record hasn't been good enough. We need to turn up and play for the badge, play for each other and play for the fans.
"We've spoken about it with the players. We've spoken about how important it is to this football club. We've shown them what it means.
"We've got to turn up as a group, together, united, and play with passion. We are in it together - not just as staff and players, but as fans and as a football club. It is going to take every one of us to drive it forward.
"Games like this are about being controlled. We'll go into the game with a controlled emotion, but you do have to play with intensity and belief.”
"This isn't just another game. We've spoken about that. We've got a game plan. They're a football team in our league, and we know there are ways to expose and hurt them.
"We've gone through what it means in detail. There is a history to it. You have to feel the emotion and we will.”
Bloooooooooobirds!
