PREVIEW: SWANSEA CITY V CARDIFF CITY

A comprehensive look at Saturday's derby

Swansea City v Cardiff City
Venue: Liberty Stadium
Date: Saturday, 8th February, KO 5.30pm
Nav-it: SA1 2FA
Match-tag:#SWACAR (Live tweets on @CardiffCityFC)
LISTEN LIVE ON CARDIFF CITY PLAYER

Cardiff City look to make it back-to-back Premier League victories by claiming a second triumph of the season against Swansea City at Liberty Stadium.

MATCH FACTS
- Swansea’s only red card in the Barclays Premier League this season came in the reverse fixture against Cardiff (Michel Vorm).
- The last time this fixture was played at Liberty Stadium, Craig Bellamy scored the winner for Cardiff City.
- Indeed, the last three South Wales derbies have ended 1-0 (two wins for Cardiff, one for Swansea).
- Cardiff City are the only Premier League team not to win a penalty this season.
- Swansea have the lowest saves to shots ratio in the division (63%) this season.
- All seven of Wilfried Bony’s Premier League goals have come in Wales.
- If the Bluebirds beat Swansea City for the second time this season, it will be the first time Cardiff have claimed three consecutive league victories over the local rivals.

KEY PLAYER: Jonjo Shelvey



There hasn’t been a more consistent or regular performer for the Swans in midfield this season than Jonjo Shelvey who has made 20 Premier League appearances since joining from Liverpool, scoring four goals.

IN-FORM PLAYER: Wilfried Bony



Swansea’s top scorer this season, the record signing has netted 16 goals in all competitions this campaign including five in the Europa League. Bony’s recent form has seen him score six in seven appearances for the Swans, including a double FA Cup brace against Manchester United and then Birmingham City to claim a fifth round place.

RECENT FORM (ALL COMPETITIONS):

Cardiff City: WLLWLW
Last time out: Cardiff City 2-1 Norwich City – Saturday, 1st February, Barclays Premier League.



Two goals in two second half minutes turned this game on its head at Cardiff City Stadium as a first goal of the season for Craig Bellamy and a Kenwyne Jones debut strike secured three precious Premier League points for the Bluebirds.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Fabio (Théophile-Catherine, 75), John, Medel, Caulker, Turner, Noone, Whittingham (Zaha, 38), Jones, Bellamy, Mutch (Gunnarsson, 67) Subs not used: Campbell, Wolff Eikrem, Daehli.

Swansea City:  WLLWWL
Last time out: West Ham United 2-0 Swansea City – Saturday, 1st February, Barclays Premier League.



West Ham striker Andy Carroll provided the assists for a Kevin Nolan double before being sent off against Swansea City at Upton Park. The Swans have now won just once in their last eleven Barclays Premier League fixtures.

Team – Swansea City: Tremmel, Davies, Williams, Tiendalli, Chico, Routledge, Dyer (Ngog, 77), de Guzman, Shelvey (Hernandez, 70), Amat (Pozuelo, 63), Bony. Subs not used: Cornell; Lamah, Britton, Rangel.   
   
LAST COMPETITIVE MEETING:
2013/14: Saturday, 3rd November 2013, Barclays Premier League – Cardiff City 1-0 Swansea City



Cardiff City claimed victory in the first ever Premier League South Wales derby as Steven Caulker’s second-half header claimed all three points and bragging rights against his former club Swansea City.

Team - Cardiff City: Marshall, Théophile-Catherine, Taylor, Medel (Kim, 88), Caulker, Turner, Cowie, Mutch (Gunnarsson, 54), Odemwingie (Campbell, 75), Whittingham, Bellamy. Subs not used: Lewis, Hudson, Noone, Maynard, Lewis.
         
REFEREE: Andre Marriner

Having worked within the Football League for five years from 2000, Andre Marriner was appointed as a Select Group referee in 2005 and has been on the Premier League list ever since.

The man in the middle for City’s Championship Play-off final defeat to Blackpool in 2010, Marriner last officiated a City match on Boxing Day in the Bluebirds’ defeat to Southampton at Cardiff City Stadium.