Swansea v Cardiff. Match preview

Last updated : 16 October 2021 By Michael Morris

Sunday 17th October, 2021. ko 12 noon. Live on Sky Sports Football

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Mick McCarthy won his first South Wales derby game when Aden Flint headed the winner at The Liberty back in March. If McCarthy's side fall to a sixth straight League defeat on Sunday then this game is likely to be the last derby he presides over.

"I’ve had a few derbies in my life," McCarthy said. "They are always intense, high profile and I love that about them.

"If you can win them then they are brilliant. If you get beat in them it leaves you pretty low, even more so the fans, because it's important for them.

"Players and managers come and go but fans are always there. They like the bragging rights from the derby games."

When asked he he felt under pressure McCarthy said:

"When that question is asked, it’s always about the job. That's the meaning behind, 'are you feeling under pressure?'

"I fully understand that if you lose games you lose your job. That’s not what creates the pressure for me. What creates the pressure is the game against Swansea, to try and win it.

"I’m under pressure to get a performance and a result, if we do, that'll be brilliant, because that's what I want. If we don’t, I fully understand the rules of the game.

"I try not to let that pressure and all that noise behind me affect what I'm doing for the Swansea game."

Team News:

Cardiff City captain Sean Morrison is back in contention for Sunday's crucial south Wales derby clash with Swansea City.

The Bluebirds centre back missed the 1-0 defeat by Reading before the international break owing to a thigh strain, however he has returned and will be available for selection for the fixture at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Another boost for City fans is that Kieffer Moore is fully fit after taking a whack in the eye while away on international duty with Wales, a blow which left him with blurred vision afterwards.

However Mick McCarthy has said the player has recovered well and will likely lead the line against the Swans this weekend.

Sam Bowen, who played so well in that defeat by the Royals, missed this week's Wales under-21s loss to Netherlands, has recovered from illness and will also be available.

Tom Sang, however, will likely miss out again because he is still struggling with that toe issue which has plagued him since the back end of last season.

Swansea boss Russell Martin has had a major triple fitness boost ahead of Sunday’s South Wales derby with Cardiff. Defender Ryan Bennett and striker Michael Obafemi are both available after missing the last four games.

Midfielder Olivier Ntcham has recovered from the hamstring injury which kept him out of the pre-international break draw at Derby. Ethan Laird and Ryan Manning have also shaken off knocks and Martin has a full squad to choose from for the first time since his arrival in August.

MATCH STATS

  • Swansea City have lost consecutive home league matches against rivals Cardiff City once before, losing in the 1957-58 and 1958-59 seasons to the Bluebirds.
  • There has only been four goals scored in the last four league meetings between Swansea and Cardiff, with Cardiff’s only goal in this run their winning goal from Aden Flint in the last game between the teams.
  • Since the start of last season, Swansea City have kept 26 Championship clean sheets, the most of any side (excluding play-offs), with the Swans leading the way for clean sheets this season too (six).
  • Cardiff City have lost their last five league matches, last losing six on the bounce in November 1985 under Alan Durban.
  • Cardiff striker Kieffer Moore hasn’t scored in any of his last nine Championship appearances, his longest run without a goal since a 13-game stretch between May 2018 and October 2019 at Barnsley and Wigan – the Welshman ended this run with a goal against Swansea in November 2019, though it was in a 2-1 defeat. There hasn’t been a Welsh scorer in a league match between Cardiff and Swansea since February 2011, a Craig Bellamy winner for Cardiff at Liberty Stadium.

Match Officials:

Referee: James Linington
Assistants: Rob Smith & Nigel Lugg
Fourth Official: Darren Drysdale