SWANSEA v CARDIFF MATCH REPORT

Swansea City 3 Cardiff City 0

The quest for a League double in the south Wales derby goes into an 85th season after Garry Monk inspired Swansea City to avenge their earlier defeat in Cardiff with a priceless, club-steadying victory.

Monk, who took over as head coach only on Tuesday when Michael Laudrup was shown the door, ordered double training sessions ahead of this “must win” match and got the team back to playing the old Swansea way.

The build-up to the game was certainly far more entertaining than the first 40 minutes. The sacking of Michael Laudrup, the urging of his Cardiff team by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to make history and the fact that results earlier in the day had conspired against both teams all added to the tension of the big occasion.

Welsh sport needed some real fireworks after the damp rugby squib in Dublin, but there were none on show in the early stages. Wayne Routledge shot tamely at David Marshall after a great run by new singing Marvin Emnes, and Jonathan de Guzman shot so far over the bar from the edge of the “D” that he nearly cleared the grandstand.

At the other end there were occasional glimpses of magic from the 34-year-old Craig Bellamy, who twice set up Kenwyne Jones with chances, and a 35 yard volley from Peter Whittingham that at least forced the returning Michel Vorm into making a save. You wonder what Laudrup or Malky Mackay, the two managers in charge when the teams met in November, made of it all.

As for Laudrup, his dismissal was explained away in the match programme by the Swansea City chairman, Huw Jenkins, as necessary to avoid a further erosion of the club’s basic principles. He wrote: “Collectively as a board we assessed every aspect surrounding the way our first-team staff and squad was working on a day-to-day basis. Without going into detail, it was clear to all of our directors that the strong principles we have had at Swansea City over the last 10 years were slowly being eroded.

“Only time will tell whether the timing was right, but in the end we had to get back to basics for the betterment of Swansea City. We need to work as one with a strong belief that we can compete with everyone in everything we do.”

Monk made his first major decision as the new boss at half-time when he replaced Emnes with Pablo Hernandez and it didn’t take long for the move to pay off. Latching on to a ball just inside the Cardiff half, the Spaniard threaded the ball into the visitors penalty to Routledge, stroked the ball past Marshall.

That lifted the temperature and pace of the game and within a couple of minutes Bellamy rifled a rasping 30-yard drive against the crossbar to remind the home fans that the game wasn’t over.

But the introduction of Hernandez to the home midfield completely changed the pattern of the game.

The confidence came flooding back into the home side’s passing, they moved forward with great purpose and effect and it was a very concerned Solskjaer who emerged from the dug-out to urge on his troops as the game started to slip away from them.

The game had gone completely in the 79th minute when Hernandez fed Routledge, who chipped the ball into the box and Nathan Dyer crept between the twin towers in Cardiff’s central defence to head home in the left corner.

Just to add insult to injury, Wilfried Bony added a third with a bullet-like header from a free-kick.

Line-ups:

Swansea City (4-2-3-1): Vorm; Rangel, Williams, Flores, Davies; Britton, De Guzman (Canas, 68); Dyer (Taylor, 87), Emnes (Hernandez, 46), Routledge; Bony.

Cardiff City (4-1-4-1): Marshall; Fabio (McNaughton, 68), Caulker, Turner, John; Medel; Zaha (Mutch, 77), Whittingham, Medel, Kim, Bellamy; Jones (Campbell, 56)

Referee: Andre Marriner.

Short version of match report: CARDIFF CITY WERE UTTER SHITE

No offence Carl but reading that is soul destroying and after the rebrand I didn't think I had one left.

Carl mate we were f*cking p!ss poor, I had no faith with OGS before the game and it's declined rapidly since. We need to sort it out.

Super swans.....have that you bunch of scruffy in bred t@&ts

I am an independent fan but the game was a total disgrace. I didn't expect it. I have watched and read a lot about Cardiff FC, their passionate supporters, the Soul Crew firm but these Cardiff players yesterday had not any idea how to pass the ball, how to play Premiership football, etc., it was surprised me. Mr. Tan (who the f**k is this Asian b*stard?) ripped the heart out of club and fans. I couldn't understand why K.Jones was preferred to Fraser Campbell?! The defense was desperately poor! The total disharmony between owner, fans and team! I know that everyone from Fan club had dreamed for a Premier League Land before, even Annis had written about it in its excellent books but what the f**k is happening now....? Today the team looks like a bunch of individuals. I don't trust that Hull FC or Crystal Palace FC are better than CCFC but they have to do something. Perhaps, Mr. Tan has to be kicked out! The Cardiff FC must win at least 7 games until the end of season in order to prevent relegation. The players have to keep the Supporter's dream i.e. the Premier League Land!

I just wanted to say being a Swansea City fan for many years It wasn't the best game I've seen but the passion from both teams was there, I hope Cardiff can pull things around and get out of trouble, Aston Villa can be beaten!
Swans too still need to win a few games to stay out of trouble, I hope both our great Welsh clubs can do this even though the rivalry between us is very strong I want both of our teams in the Premier league so we can have the derby matches that have meant so much to us.
So come on you Blue Birds get a sack full on Tuesday and start climbing the league!
Good Luck Cardiff City!