I've Watched Many Derby Games Over The Years

but I'm struggling to think of another game where the result was so important to both teams. In my opinion defeat for either side will more than likely deliver the losing team into a massive struggle to maintain thier PL status.

I was thinking today about other derby matches I've watched and trying to remember my favourite. My first game was in 1965 when Cardiff won 5-0 at Ninian Park where John Charles scored a couple and Ivor Allchurch a hatrick. That season the jacks were relegated and it was 15 years before there was another derby game where we lost 2-1 at the Vetch where two ex Cardiff players (Toshack & Giles) scored for the jacks but we won the return 1-0 (Billy Ronson). The following season both games were drawn with the 3-3 draw which included "that" John Buchanan goal and Peter Kitchen scoring in the 1-1 draw away. The Jacks were on the up at that time and were promoted to Division One (now the PL) whilst we were relegated the following season.

But it didn't last for the Jacks and following thier relegation at the end of the 1982/83 season and our promotion the same year the derby matches returned for season 1983/84 and for me this season contained two of the best matches in all the years I've been watching the bluebird / jack derbies. We won the home game 3-2 on boxing day 1983 with Roger Gibbins, Trevor Lee and Nigel Vaughan with our goals and by the return match at the Vetch at Easter a win for the Bluebirds would result in the Jacks being relegated. On the day Cardiff cruised into a 2-0 lead and I like thousands of other Bluebirds fans thought we would get the "Ultimate" buzz of beating and relegating the Jacks on the same day. Sadly Ian Walsh and a young Dean Saunders (2) secured a 3-2 win for Swansea.

I will always remember leaving the Vetch that day thinking it meant more to the Jack players than it did to our players, not just bragging rights and not to save them from relegation, because that was always going to happen, and did a few days later when they lost at Shrewsbury. In fact it's been pretty much the same in every game since, except when we met last November when that was the most lacklustre performance from any Jack team I can remember.

I think it's fair to say that both clubs have had a disappointing season with Cardiff struggling to make an impact in thier first PL season and Swansea being badly affected by both the Europa League and injuries to key players. But one thing is certain for me and that is tomorrow the Jacks will be up for this game and events this week down at the Council house makes me feel that the result will be more important to thier players than ours.

This is the big challenge for OGS in making sure our players are up for it from the first kick because we cannot afford another start like last week against Norwich where we looked lost for the first half hour. It may have been boring sterile football under MM but we were always organised and I just hope OGS has sorted out the issues from last week because any of the defensive choas of the first 30 minutes last week will be punished.

With the result being so important I just hope that at 7.30 tomorrow evening I'm not feeling the the Jack players wanted the result more than ours. Given what's at stake that would be hard to bear.

Personally i don't think it's a season defining game for us. Much more important for them to avoid defeat than it is for us. We've already got the"bragging rights"from November and although our games are running out I believe we'll do enough at home with 2 away wins and a couple of draws(starting tomorrow) to guide us out of the bottom three by May

We're more than capable of winning there but they'll be fighting like their lives depend on it in arguably their cup final. A point apiece

Always thought you'd be more of a Forest fan personally