Swansea City v Cardiff City Match report

By Steve Garland

Snapshot

Two Darren Pratley goals ensured that it was Swansea City who edged an extremely entertaining, yet devastating South Wales derby, as the Bluebirds fell to a 3-2 defeat at the Liberty Stadium.

Lloyd Dyer got the Swans off to the best of starts when he capitalised on an unfortunate David Marshall slip to nod the ball into the back of an empty net with just under ten minutes gone.

Influential Darren Pratley then doubled Swansea's lead on the quarter of an hour mark as he slotted home from close range - only for Jay Bothroyd to give the Bluebirds a route back into the match with a superbly deft finish on the half hour mark.

In a superb comeback, Mark Hudson's first goal for the club got the Bluebirds level as he nodded home from a tight angle to ensure this South Wales derby would hang in the balance going into the break.

But it was a break that halted the Cardiff momentum gained towards the end of the first half, as Darren Pratley regained the lead for the Swans with half an hour remaining, as he again capitalised on some sloppy Cardiff marking to slot home.

And this time there would be no comeback from a Cardiff side that lacked ideas in the second half and ultimately whimpered to their first defeat in sevem games, but perhaps more importantly a derby day defeat.

Chronological report

In front of a rare sell out crowd at the Liberty Stadium, an electric atmosphere greeted the first chapter of this seasons South Wales derby, as Cardiff aimed to add three points to their promotion push and get one over the old foe in the process.

Despite the late omission of Captain Garry Monk from the Swansea line-up, it was the Swans who would get the early chance. Darren Pratley fed through Craig Beattie to have a shot on goal; only the quick response of David Marshall could ensure that the Bluebirds did not instantly go behind.

It set the early tone to the game however as the Swans continued to push forward looking for the opening goal. It soon came, when with just nine minutes gone in the game, explosive winger Nathan Dyer capitalised on an unfortunate David Marshall slip to nod the ball into an empty net. Darren Pratley's floated free-kick caused havoc amongst the City defence as David Marshall unluckily slipped in his own penalty area allowing the diminutive winger, the easiest of chances of drawing the early blood for the home side.

GOAL: Swansea City 1-0 Cardiff City (Nathan Dyer 9 mins)

Against the second meanest defence in the Championship, an early deficit was the last thing the Bluebirds needed, but City's problems soon worsened as the Swans doubled their lead with just a quarter of an hour gone.

The Cardiff defence had struggled to cope with Swansea's build up play so far in the game and Federico Bessone's cross from the left caused City's shaky backline severe problems, switching off at the back to allow the influential Darren Pratley to get his name on the scoresheet and ensure Swansea's dominant position in the game.

GOAL: Swansea City 2-0 Cardiff City (Darren Pratley 15 mins)

With half an hour gone, Swansea City were undoubtedly on top of an extremely one sided South Wales derby and with seven clean sheets in their last ten games it was hard to see anyway back into the match for what had been so far a lacklustre Bluebirds side.

But in derby matches, all of your statistics can be thrown out of the window and the Bluebirds proved it, with a sensational comeback within five minutes of the half hour mark.

In what was ultimately Cardiff's first chance of the game, Chris Burke fed through Jay Bothroyd with a superb floated through ball to put Jay one on one with keeper De Vries. With the big Dutch goalkeeper bearing down on him, Bothroyd kept his cool to casually tap into the bottom corner of the net and give the Bluebirds a vital route back into the match.

GOAL: Swansea City 1-2 Cardiff City (Jay Bothroyd 32 mins)

The old saying goes 'goals change games' and Bothroyd's third goal in three matches completely turned this derby on its head as Cardiff equalised just two minutes later through skipper Mark Hudson. Hudson, who had not scored for the Bluebirds since his summer arrival from Charlton Athletic, superbly latched onto a deep Ross McCormack free kick at the far post, nodding home at the tightest of angles and put an electric derby back in the balance.

GOAL: Swansea City 2-2 Cardiff City (Mark Hudson 35 mins)

2-2 is of course a familiar scoreline between these two sides, but a fantastic comeback from the Capital club made sure that no-one could expect the game to end that way going into the break.With both sides now going all out for the win and the bragging rights that go with it, another fantastic second half was surely in the offing.

Half time: Swansea City 2-2 Cardiff City

For Cardiff it appeared that half time came to soon as they lost some of their momentum in the opening ten minutes of the second half, Swansea having the better of the possession as they looked to regain their early impetus.

Nothing a Ross McCormack free-kick couldn't change however as he lined up a 25-yard free kick. Coming off the back of a superb free-kick goal for the reserves against Exeter City in the week, fire was in the eyes of the Scottish striker who unleashed a superb curling effort towards goal. De Vries was beaten and only the cross bar could come to the Swans aid, leaving McCormack despondent on the edge of the area.

But in an intense derby match, the Bluebirds would be made to pay for their misfortune as the Swans again tested the Cardiff defence, as late replacement Federico Bessone charged down the left flank. With time and space the left back got his cross in and with the City defence marking shadows, up stepped Darren Pratley to punish some slack defending and smash the ball home to regain the Swans the lead.

GOAL: Swansea City 3-2 Cardiff City (Darren Pratley 60 mins)

Swansea City substitution: Craig Beattie off - Gorka Pintado on (65 mins)

Cardiff City substitution: Tony Capaldi off - Solomon Taiwo on (68 mins)

Unlike the first half, a Swansea goal failed to reinvigorate a now flagging Cardiff side as the Bluebirds struggled to create an opening in the next twenty minutes, if anything it was Swansea who were looking the most likely to score and secure the victory.

With full time approaching, the Bluebirds pushed forward looking for an equaliser, but against a Swansea side now in full defence mode, City failed to break them downand ensured it was Swansea who would take the derby day spoils.

Not only was it a disappointing defeat against the old foe, but it put an end to a good run of six games without defeat for the Bluebirds, a defeat they will now have time to reflect on through the international break. A trip to Barnsley is next on the agenda for the Bluebirds where they will hope to have this game out of their minds and get their promotion push back on track.

Teams:

Swansea City: Dorus de Vries, Ashley Williams, Alan Tate, Leon Britton, Darren Pratley, Craig Beattie (Gorka Pintado 65), Cedric Van der Gun, Nathan Dyer (Tom Butler 82), Gary Monk (Federico Bessone pre game change), Angel Rangel, Joe Allen (Andrea Orlandi 76).

Subs not used:Jordi Lopez, David Cornell, Lee Trundle,

Cardiff City: David Marshall, Mark Kennedy, Gavin Rae, Mark Hudson, Jay Bothroyd, Chris Burke, Tony Capaldi (Solomon Taiwo 68), Anthony Gerrard, Joe Ledley, Adam Matthews, Ross McCormack.

Subs not used: Gabor Gyepes, Riccardo Scimeca, Peter Enckelman, Miguel Comminges, Warren Feeney, Aaron Wildig.

Referee: Mr Lee Probert