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Exactly what fiesty Swansea City v Cardiff City clash will c

Sat Oct 16, 2021 9:31 am

Exactly what fiesty Swansea City v Cardiff City clash will come down to as rivals' problems poles apart

Swansea City host Cardiff City this Sunday with neither side able to boast about their starts to the campaign



By Guto Llewelyn





Attitude is often just as important as ability when it comes to the South Wales derby and that's once again likely to be the case when Swansea face Cardiff on Sunday.

It's fair to say neither side has set the world on fire during the opening months of the campaign. For the eighth derby in a row, Swansea will kick off the match above Cardiff in the table but in truth there's little to brag about with that accolade, seeing as the Swans enter the weekend in 19th with the Bluebirds in 20th.

Cardiff began the season with some positive results but their form has fallen off the side of a cliff since losing another derby to Bristol City at the end of August.

They currently have the longest losing streak in the top five divisions of English football, having lost each of their last five. Cardiff have not suffered six consecutive league defeats since 1985.

Swansea’s recent form has certainly been better than that of their bitter rivals but they remain just three points above the relegation zone.



Performances have gradually improved since Russell Martin arrived at the club less than a week before the opening day of the season, however his revolution has been a slow moving one.

The style of play has been transformed since Steve Cooper’s summer departure but the increased possession and more accurate passing has only seen the Swans average a point per game.

Only Barnsley have won fewer matches than Swansea in the opening 11 games and only three Championship clubs have scored fewer goals than the Swans.

Both clubs have clearly had their difficulties in the first two months of the campaign.

Swansea are undergoing a total change of culture on the pitch after yet another summer of ins and outs. Chaos is par for the course at the Swansea.com Stadium but adapting to all this change in such a short space of time has not been easy and they are still searching for a balanced formula.

The improved passing is encouraging but they still lack the incisiveness in the final third to break down defences. When opponents park the bus, Swansea very rarely have an answer and that could be a problem on Sunday as they prepare to face a side which recently began a match with five centre-backs.

Cardiff’s problems on the other hand seem to derive from a staleness which has seeped into the club over many years, like untreated damp slowly creeping up a kitchen wall.

Their squad has not been adequately refreshed and a string of managers have been employed to keep playing the same archaic style, which repeatedly results in stagnation. Whenever this stagnation inevitably kicks in, a new manager is called upon to give the squad a short-term boost without ever addressing the underlying problems, meaning they eventually end up in the same position again.

The latest manager to find himself in this hole is Mick McCarthy, a classic of the genre who has come under major pressure following the latest downturn in results.

Swansea and Cardiff both have plenty of issues but the causes of each club’s issues could not be more different.

Swansea’s early season teething problems are the result of major upheaval. Meanwhile Cardiff’s malaise is down to a lack of willingness to freshen things up.

Both clubs are searching for a result which could supercharge their season and Sunday presents both sides with a great opportunity in that respect.

We could discuss each manager’s tactical dilemmas until the cows come home but this game more than any other is usually decided by each team’s mindset. After what feels like a very long international break, fans of both sides will be hoping for desire, confidence and fight from their players.

The two-week recess has given the Swans and Bluebirds a chance to recharge batteries and build some positivity.

Swansea’s last match was a frustrating watch as they struggled to penetrate a compact and organised Derby County defence. Many players appeared tired and in need of rest.

They have had a chance to recover and the squad’s been boosted by the return from injury of players like Olivier Ntcham, Ryan Bennett and Michael Obafemi, all of whom could make a big difference in the derby.

The past fortnight has given Martin a valuable opportunity to further convey his ideas on the training ground but even more importantly, it’s given Swansea a chance to return to full strength ahead of the visit of the old enemy.

But Cardiff needed this break even more than Swansea. McCarthy’s side showed renewed desire in their last defeat against Reading, which they were unlucky to lose, but it was yet another bad result in a dismal run.

The international break has at least given them a respite from the constant losing and an escape from the spotlight. Their supporters will hope it can give them a chance to wipe the slate clean and start afresh.

The past fortnight has been a gift for both sides, a chance to work on morale and inspire confidence.

Derbies are tests of players’ mental strength as much as their physical strengths. The most pumped up side usually ends up winning it.

For two sides who aren’t used to winning, this is a major test of character. Which players can raise their game for the big occasion, thrive in that intense atmosphere and give their fans the victory they so desperately crave? We will soon find out.