' Ashley Williams '

Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams targeting derby double against Cardiff City

Craig Bellamy and Ashley Williams go head-to-head in the Premier League
By Steve Tucker | 14 Aug 2013 06:00
Ashley Williams captains Wales against the Republic of Ireland tonight, but admits he is already relishing the challenge of helping Swansea to a Premier League double over the Bluebirds.

The clashes in November and April between the two bitter South Wales rivals will be the first ever in the top flight, with the build up to the first meeting at Cardiff City Stadium on November 3 already a red letter day for both sets of fans.

Swans skipper Williams said: “It would be nice to win both.

“It’s a massive game. I’m not sure what Premier League fans in England think, but for us in Wales it’s going to be a massive game.

“The build up starts very early, it’s one we are already looking forward to and I’m sure Cardiff are the same. It’s a massive day.

“We enjoyed the derbies last time in the Championship and it’ll be on a bigger scale now. We’ll definitely be looking forward to that and will enjoy it.”

Gallery: Classic South Wales derby matches of recent times




September 23, 2008,Carling Cup: Swansea 1 (Gomez 57) Cardiff 0

Spanish loan star Gomez handed Swansea deserved bragging rights after Cardiff wilted under the pressure of the derby atmosphere, the midfielder’s deflected free-kick winning the day. Stephen McPhail was sent off to compound Cardiff’s misery and delight Swansea fans who had spent the previous nine years left looking up at the Bluebirds, boss Roberto Martinez labelling it a special night for fans.

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Nov 30 2008, Championship: Swansea 2 (Pratley 19, Pintado 61) Cardiff 2 (Ledley 45, McCormack 48pen)

The first league meeting between the sides in a decade ended all-square after Gorka Pintado’s volley from a corner in a thrilling clash. McPhail was sent off once more for a double booking - joined by Leon Britton in the dying seconds of the game - but only after Swansea had taken a lead worthy of early play when Darren Pratley finished from Jason Scotland’s pull-back. Cardiff countered with a double sucker-punch, boyhood Bluebird punishing a weak Dorus de Vries clearance just before the break before Scot Ross McCormack made no mistake from the spot after the hapless Fede Bessone’s foul on Michael Chopra. Pintado levelled but then blew the chance to beat Peter Enckleman for a winner.

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April 5 2009, Championship: Cardiff 2 (Chopra 54, McCormack 90pen) Swansea 2 (Dyer 11, Allen 88)

The last ever derby at Ninian Park and certainly one of the most controversial after referee Mike Dean was struck and cut by a coin thrown from a Cardiff supporter. Swansea had already taken the lead by that stage when Nathan Dyer was allowed to fire home Jason Scotland’s pass from inside the box, but Cardiff rallied and grabbed a deserved leveller when Michael Chopra pounced from close range to finish a Jay Bothroyd pass. Dorus de Vries kept Swansea in the game and the visitors looked to have won it when sub Joe Allen smashed his first goal from the club with two minutes remaining with a sweetly struck shot from outside the box. But there was one last twist as Ashley Williams was perhaps harshly adjudged to have felled Ross McCormack in meeting a late high ball into the box, the Scot making the most of the opportunity from the spot before Swans sub Tom Butler was sent off for dismissal after the final whistle.

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Nov 7 2009, Championship Liberty Stadium: Swansea 3 (Dyer 9, Pratley 16, Pratley 61) Cardiff 2 (Bothroyd 32, Hudson 35)

Another game that lived up to the hype as Swansea raced into a two-goal lead, the hosts running riot as Nathan Dyer headed the first before Pratley volleyed home a second for an early two-goal lead. But Bothroyd beat the offside trap to punish Swansea with Cardiff’s first real chance before Hudson headed home from a McCormack free-kick three minutes later to level. Still, Swansea grabbed the victory when Pratley timed his run to meet Bessone’s cross with Paulo Sousa’s side surviving a late Cardiff onslaught for the victory.

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April 3 2010, Championship: Cardiff 2 (Chopra 42,90+2) Swansea 1 (Orlandi 28)

Swansea looked on course for the first double in the fixture when Andrea Orlandi somehow snuck home an opener when his curling corner made its way past David Marsall and into the back of the net. But Chopra ended a three-month goal drought when he got on the end of a Bothroyd free-kick to set-up a tense finale for the two play-off hopefuls. Swansea thought they had won it only for Marsall to deny sub Shefki Kuqi with a wonder stop, setting up Chorpa’s heroics when he latched onto Aaron Wildig’s late ball for the injury-time party.

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Nov 7 2010, Championship: Cardiff 0 Swansea 1 (Emnes 75)

Brendan Rodgers’ men showed their class with a dominant display at Cardiff City Stadium, rewarded when Middlesbrough loan striker Marvin Emnes wrote his name into Swansea folklore with a egde-of-the-box winner 15 minutes from time. With Joe Allen outstanding, Swansea had made a mockery of Cardiff’s favourites tag before Emnes got enough room from defenders before firing home. Dorus de Vries kept out Bellamy with the Bluebirds’ best chance but the result piled the pressure on Cardiff boss Dave Jones and kept Swans’ promotion hopes alive.

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Feb 6 2011, Championship: Swansea 0 Cardiff 1 (Bellamy 85)

Craig Bellamy cemented his cult status at Cardiff with one of the best goals in South Wales derby history to give the Bluebirds a first win in the fixture since 1997. Cardiff gave one of their best performances of the season, inspired by loan men Bellamy and Aaron Ramsey, to nullify Swansea’s midfield threat . And when Scott Sinclair missed chances to take the lead, Bellamy’s brilliance to lose Angel Rangel and curl home from distance after a one-two with Ramsey won the day in some style.



Yet Williams revealed playing in the electric atmosphere of a derby day was not always an enjoyable experience.

He added: “For me the games themselves have always been a bit of a let-down because they are so edgy. No one wants to make a mistake.

“They are sometimes not as fun to play in as you might imagine. Everyone is so cagey.

“But in the Premier League they are going to be massive.”

Williams’ immediate focus will be on helping Chris Coleman’s Wales to victory in Wednesday's Cardiff City Stadium friendly, but he believes the arrival of Malky Mackay’s men in the top flight can only be good for the Welsh game.

“It’s good for the country,” said Williams.

“To have two teams in the Premier League is great for Wales. I think it’s good for the national team.

“You drive around and you see kids in the park with Cardiff and Swansea shirts on rather than Manchester United and Chelsea. To see the youngsters following us and Cardiff is great.”

Those summaries stink of bias.

Those summaries stink of bias.

which bits?

Swansea City skipper Ashley Williams targeting derby double against Cardiff City

Craig Bellamy and Ashley Williams go head-to-head in the Premier League
By Steve Tucker | 14 Aug 2013 06:00

“To have two teams in the Premier League is great for Wales. I think it’s good for the national team.

“You drive around and you see kids in the park with Cardiff and Swansea shirts on rather than Manchester United and Chelsea. To see the youngsters following us and Cardiff is great.”

I agree with him. Committed as I am to Cardiff City, I hope that every Welsh team (and that includes Swansea) does well, just not quite as well as Cardiff City!

It is great for youngsters to support their local team, but we have to be realistic. It is natural for youngsters to want to support success. We need years in the Premiership to change the culture and persuade the youngsters to support us instead of Chelsea, Man U etc. It will also take time to persuade the Bellamys and Bales of tomorrow to sign for us instead of the top teams.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

Those summaries stink of bias.

The bit that annoyed me was the controversial rossco pen. Yes it was soft but Allens goal should have been flagged offside as Scotland was blocking marshys view. Also in the 1-0 league cup game Gomez was nothing short of a disgrace with his diving.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

As captain of Wales he should be neutral and say he hopes for 2 nil nil draws with fans walking in and out of ground hand in hand.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

As captain of Wales he should be neutral and say he hopes for 2 nil nil draws with fans walking in and out of ground hand in hand.

Ha Ha.I think i'm talking to the wrong poster if i want a balanced view on Ashley Williams,Gareth.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

As captain of Wales he should be neutral and say he hopes for 2 nil nil draws with fans walking in and out of ground hand in hand.

Ha Ha.I think i'm talking to the wrong poster if i want a balanced view on Ashley Williams,Gareth.

Testicles! I would never let my bigotry get in the way. Honest.

Why is he talking about Cardiff City whilst on duty with Wales?

Why is he talking about Cardiff City whilst on duty with Wales?

because he was asked obviously.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

As captain of Wales he should be neutral and say he hopes for 2 nil nil draws with fans walking in and out of ground hand in hand.

Ha Ha.I think i'm talking to the wrong poster if i want a balanced view on Ashley Williams,Gareth.

Testicles! I would never let my bigotry get in the way. Honest.

I rest my case m'lud.

Off topic slightly.These international friendlies just days before the season starts.What the feck are they all about? Bony doesn't get back to Wales from the States until the early hours of Friday morning.And then faces Man Utd the following day.You couldn't make it up.

Those summaries stink of bias.

Really? Maybe where he states he'll be going for 6 points?

Perhaps he should have said he'll be hoping just not to lose the games then and be happy with 2 draws.

As captain of Wales he should be neutral and say he hopes for 2 nil nil draws with fans walking in and out of ground hand in hand.

Ha Ha.I think i'm talking to the wrong poster if i want a balanced view on Ashley Williams,Gareth.

Testicles! I would never let my bigotry get in the way. Honest.

I rest my case m'lud.

Off topic slightly.These international friendlies just days before the season starts.What the feck are they all about? Bony doesn't get back to Wales from the States until the early hours of Friday morning.And then faces Man Utd the following day.You couldn't make it up.

It's a joke. Personally I think all international football should take place at the end of the domestic seasons. Get rid of league cup (not because you lot won it) and end season in April. Then may can see international month and June can be month of rest for players. This maybe because I've lost interest in Wales due to 25 years in exile and managers like Coleman and Toshack who have sapped my passion for the national team.

No idea why he's talking about us when on international duty, he's clearly got November on the mind! He's a decent centre half though and he should keep Keane and that quiet. I've been betting on tonight's game against Ireland and got some great odds with Marathonbet. Defo recommend getting on.

No idea why he's talking about us when on international duty.

Because he was asked. Or do you think this is a transcription of a tapped private phone call?

Dunno why hes bothered he'l be playing for the Gunners by then anyway. PS - Vinny Jones is more welsh than him, Joker! Juding from recent results the tide is def turning our way in these games, Love seeing Chops on the sheet. Well do em in Nov i recon, cmon city

Juding from recent results the tide is def turning our way in these games,

Judging from recent results?

2010

Swansea win 1

Cardiff win 1

Draws 0

2009

Swansea win 1

cardiff win 1

Draws 1

Hope he breaks his leg playing for Wales tonight

I mean how they have been playing as much as anything, I think we got the measure of them and their fans know it.

and besides, williams wont be the only one leaving by the looks - ta ra Michu!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ns-2162885

I mean how they have been playing as much as anything, I think we got the measure of them and their fans know it.

and besides, williams wont be the only one leaving by the looks - ta ra Michu!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/ ... ns-2162885

I dont understand what you are saying im afraid. Bith teams were even the last two meetings with 1-0 to each team with the winners deserving the victory each time.

Since then the teams are almost completely different.

If Arsenal want williams then they pay £10m, if they want Michu then they pay £30m. I have no issues with either.

Swansea player wants to win both derbies, big news.