' CARDIFF CITY / SWANSEA CITY THE PLAY -OFFS '

' CARDIFF CITY / SWANSEA CITY THE PLAY -OFFS '


By Ben James

Sunday 26th July 2020



' CARDIFF CITY '


It's been a dramatic season for the Bluebirds.

Neil Warnock's wish to 'do a Burnley' and bounce back to the top flight didn't exactly go to plan, with the former boss leaving in November with Cardiff in 14th place.

His replacement, Neil Harris, did a commendable job - but any hopes of a play-off place looked lost when Lee Tomlin was ruled out for eight weeks back in February.

However, the season was delayed and the Bluebirds came back stronger than before - barring what Harris describes as a 'mini-blip' with consecutive defeats against Blackburn and Fulham.

And as such, they're back in the play-off places for the first time since 2012.


Strengths

Under Harris, Cardiff have developed a number of ways to create chances.

Whether it's Nathaniel Mendez-Laing or Junior Hoilett running at defences, Sean Morrison heading home from set-pieces, some form of magic from Tomlin or Danny Ward and Robert Glatzel firing home after neat interplay around the box, Cardiff have found there's more than one way to skin a cat.

They're resilient as well, with the opposition never truly on top with a one-goal lead.

Defensively, they look more sound now than they did earlier in the season - with Curtis Nelson more solid than Aden Flint, which has brought out the best in Sean Morrison.

Many pundits feel Morrison and Joe Bennett are as good as you get in their positions at this level, while Alex Smithies has excelled in goal.

No team in the league works harder than Cardiff. They give absolutely everything which is why, even when not playing well, they have managed to churn out draws or wins.


Weaknesses

The Bluebirds are still finding their feet after three years of Warnock.

Harris has provided plenty of attacking variety, but the Plan B of going long to big men doesn't work as well despite being on the menu as a last resort for Harris.

With Flint out of the side and Callum Paterson featuring less, it falls upon the shoulders of Morrison more and more.

That said, he's scored in the last couple of games.

Again, under Warnock, Cardiff were happier playing football in the final third - often playing it long early to release the pressure valve on their defenders.

Harris is bringing more confidence for his defenders when it comes to playing out, but a solid press can still put them under pressure and force them to cough up possession.


Key man: Lee Tomlin

Who else?

Getting the playmaker fit enough to start and then managing his workload has been one of the biggest narratives for the Bluebirds since football resumed.

However, it's largely justified. He can create something out of nothing, which is useful when the Bluebirds have trouble breaking defences down.






' SWANSEA CITY '

There are likely countless Swansea fans in utter disbelief that the club are in contention.

They headed into Wednesday night with an outside shot at the play-offs, hoping for a comprehensive win over Reading and a Nottingham Forest implosion.

Nine years after scoring four past Reading earned them Premier League status, four more goals against the Royals kept them in the hunt for promotion this time around.

And it also means Steve Cooper will have a shot at the play-offs and top flight promotion in his first season of club management.


Strengths

Cooper has had his fair share of criticism this season, but it's one recent switch that has kicked their play-off bid into overdrive.

Since going to three at the back, the Swans have looked far more creative going forward.

As a result, the goals have flowed more - with Liverpool loanee Rhian Brewster continuing to impress, while full-backs Connor Roberts and Jake Bidwell have been superb as wing-backs in the new system.

That's allowed them to be more dangerous from wide avenues compared to when they played in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Defensively, the Swans are much improved from set pieces compared to last season too.



Weaknesses

In terms of struggles, their squad depth is a weakness.

They're lacking in game changers off the bench which could come back to haunt them over two legs.

The squad depth isn't exactly helped by existing injuries. They're already missing a few through injury so any more defensive issues and they’re going to be desperately short.

Kyle Naughton is suspended for the first leg, Mike van der Hoorn and Ben Cabango are being carefully managed with their own respective fitness issues.

And, of course, Swansea don't have a great record against teams above them in the table.

Key man: Rhian Brewster

Looks a star in the making.

It's little wonder Jurgen Klopp is so excited by him. His goals have been crucial for Swansea since joining in January.

If the Swans are to get back to the promised land of the Premier League, Brewster will almost certainly be front and centre of the charge.




VERDICT

It's going to be a tough ask for there to be an all-Welsh final.

Brentford have had Swansea's number this season, but a switch to a back-three might allow the Swans to deal with the Bees' devastating weapons up front - providing they can maintain their concentration and not pick up any more injuries.

As for Cardiff, it's only a matter of weeks since Fulham defeated them 2-0 at Craven Cottage. That was a mini turning point for Harris' side and they'll be keen to right some wrongs.

You'd say the two Welsh sides making it to Wembley seems the unlikeliest option of the available scenarios that can play out, but then again odds hardly seem to matter this week.

Just ask Nottingham Forest.

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I feel we have the edge over the Jacks.

We are going into the play off with 3 wins in a row that were convincing. The Jacks last 2 games they came away with a draw again a very weak and inconfident Forest and a win against a poor 10 man Reading.

I feel its hit and miss if we get pass Fulham and for the Jacks this home game against Brentford will tell us if they are ready for the final push. Both face very difficult teams.

Watching Sky Sports this morning, everyone seems to be writing off our chances. Let them, no one likes us, we don't care. No pressure on us.

Our best chance v Fulham is having 2 games with them rather than a one off.
Just hope the ref does his job and properly punishes Fulham for their constant fouling and not get suckered into awarding Mitrovic cheap penalties.
Still feel we’ve got the harder task given Brentford have forgotten how to play football and the Gods appear to be with those down west if the luck they’ve had in their last 3 games is anything to go by.

Our best chance v Fulham is having 2 games with them rather than a one off.
Just hope the ref does his job and properly punishes Fulham for their constant fouling and not get suckered into awarding Mitrovic cheap penalties.
Still feel we’ve got the harder task given Brentford have forgotten how to play football and the Gods appear to be with those down west if the luck they’ve had in their last 3 games is anything to go by.

Still got it after tonight

Would really fancy us against the Jacks....but Brentford are the class side of the play offs so hope Swansea mug em somehow.
Can’t stand Fulham so would settle for any kind of win ...2 legs should suit us better than them

Would really fancy us against the Jacks....but Brentford are the class side of the play offs so hope Swansea mug em somehow.
Can’t stand Fulham so would settle for any kind of win ...2 legs should suit us better than them

I’d prefer a one off against Fulham but I think we can beat the Jacks if we get through rather than Brentford who have some quick forwards who could cause our backline real problems!

Our best chance v Fulham is having 2 games with them rather than a one off.
Just hope the ref does his job and properly punishes Fulham for their constant fouling and not get suckered into awarding Mitrovic cheap penalties.
Still feel we’ve got the harder task given Brentford have forgotten how to play football and the Gods appear to be with those down west if the luck they’ve had in their last 3 games is anything to go by.

Still got it after tonight

Missing a penalty, not being given another and hitting the inside of the post?

Are you sure you aren’t being one eyed again?

Thomas Frank is not a happy man:

Brentford boss Thomas Frank was not happy in the wake of last night's defeat to the Swans.

The Bees boss claimed that VAR should be used for the play-off matches - after Rico Henry was sent off for a challenge on Connor Roberts.

“I think we were by far the best side until the red card, in a good football match between two good football sides, I think Swansea did well as well,” Frank said.

“Until the penalty, we should have been 1-0 up, and then the penalty came which was crucial. Maybe it was a penalty, maybe not, but that was the only time when we didn’t have control, they didn’t even have a chance.”

“When you play a game, or two games, where you’re playing for promotion to the Premier League, and you play for £170million, people need to be really, really sure when they make their decisions.

“I don’t understand why there can’t be VAR in these games. I can understand it in the Championship, but I can’t understand it when there’s so much at stake.

“They need to nail it. From my point of view, it was absolutely not a red card. I spoke to a ref outside of this, he said no red card."

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Swansea’s luck has to run out soon and they be on the wrong end of refereeing errors.

Without Ayew and their plastic imports they’d be nowhere near the top 6.