Cardiff City look to complete their first South Wales Derby double as they face Luke Williams' Swansea City.
Swansea have had a campaign full of ups and downs. Following The Swans' derby day defeat earlier in the season, Michael Duff appeared to have turned things around going five games unbeaten and winning four of those. However things quickly went downhill, and Duff was dismissed in early December. It took Swansea a month to find his successor, that man was Luke Williams. Williams has been in charge for twelve games and has picked up four wins, two draws and six defeats, to date.
Williams likes his centre backs to start the attacks, playing out from the back in the ‘proper’ way. A pattern with Williams' sides is that the ball tends to remain on the ground, with heavy reliance on building play. He likes his wing backs to start high up the pitch and press. Taking advantage of the high starting position, Swansea are able to transition into attack quickly. Williams' sides love pressing through the lines.
Swansea sit 15th ahead of this one, just five points above the drop zone.
The Bluebirds:
Cardiff are enjoying there best run of the season so far, as they find themselves with four wins in a row. Last time out, it was an 100th minute winner from Callum O'Dowda that sealed it against high-flying Ipswich. A game that highlighted the current unity and togetherness in the Cardiff squad.
In similar fashion to The Bluebirds last game, Cardiff are unlikely to have a lot of the ball. This means Cardiff will have to pick up on loose balls and counter with pace. The Bluebirds are also likely to try and utulise their quality from set pieces, as four of the last five goals Swansea have conceded, have been from set pieces.
The Bluebirds sit 11th but a win could see them move into 9th and two points off the play-offs.
Team News:
Cardiff City - Aaron Ramsey will have a late fitness test. Callum Robinson's availability is unknown. McGuinness and Etete out.
Swansea City - Josh Ginnelly, Sam Parker and Liam Welsh out. Kuharevich a doubt.
Preferred XI:
GK - Ethan Horvath
RB - Perry Ng
RCB - Dimitrios Goutas
LCB - Nat Phillips
LB - Josh Wilson-Esbrand
LDM - Ryan Wintle
RDM - Manolis Siopis
CAM - David Turnbull
RW - Josh Bowler
LW - Karlan Grant
ST - Yakou Meite
Prediction:
Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City
It may be the scar of previous fixtures, I just don't think Cardiff will have the bottle to complete the double. Form goes completely out of the window for this one, and Swansea will be up for it, after failing to turn up for the first fixture.
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