Planet Swans ArchivesWilliams returned from his injury lay off last Sunday against West Ham and tomorrow will lead his side out at the Cardiff City Stadium in the first ever meeting between the two sides in the top flight.
The worst thing that has happened in the build up this week has been that neither side has had a game to distract them from the media hype as not just local media but worldwide media has been in Wales in the build up to the game.
Almost everything that could be written and said probably has been as the hype ahead of the fixture has been taken to a new level and that is something that Ash wants us to put to one side while we take the field on Sunday afternoon.
“The team who are the most focused and most concentrated will win the derby more often than not. All the derbies I hae played in have been tight, edgy games and it’s often a question of who makes the first mistake.
“My message to the lads will be to keep their heads. It’s no good getting involved in all the atmosphere and the emotions. You should take it in before the game and enjoy it but then we have a job to do.”
The Swans have only lost once in their last seven visits to Cardiff – a late winner from Michael Chopra deciding the first derby at the Cardiff City Stadium and the last six derbies have seen the shares spoiled with two wins each and two draws.
With 25000 Cardiff fans inside the stadium the Swans know the atmosphere will be against them but backed by over 2000 of their own the black and white half of South Wales will be making themselves heard.
“It’s nice to play the derby at home, ” added Williams “but it’s also good to go away and play in an atmosphere like that. We have to go there and do the job at their place and most players will enjoy that challenge.”
