Phil SumblerIn a season where neither side has had anything to play for the build up and chance to create history will be on the mind of both sides this week as we look forward to the weekend clash with Cardiff on their own patch.
It was back in October that a Jamie Paterson inspired Swansea City romped past their South Walian neighbours with a comprehensive 3-0 victory and, on Saturday afternoon, we will have the chance to add to that misery by becoming the first side to complete a double in a fixture that started more than 100 years ago.
Swansea have won the first derby fixture of the season in 8 of the last 10 times we have found ourselves in the same division – a run spreading back to 96/97 but following those previous 7 wins (prior to this season) we have drawn 3 and lost 4 of the reverse fixtures. Indeed, the only time from the last 9 “second meetings” the Swans have been victorious has been when we triumphed 3-0 at the Liberty in the only season we spent together in the Premier League.
Russell Martin will take his side on the short trip up the M4 this weekend looking to change that stat and put his side into South Wales derby history with that all important victory – a fact that is not lost on the Swans boss as he starts to turn his attention more to the big game.
“It’s an incredible stat and I was amazed by it when I found out,” he told the club’s official website.
“We have the opportunity to do it, we have won the first game which means we can go there with less pressure than maybe they go into the game with.
“We’ll see what happens.”
The Swans, of course, have sold all their ticket allocation for the fixture which for the first time in years has not been selected for live TV coverage. We will be backed by the passionate travelling Jack Army and any performance close to the one we saw back in October will see that slice of history being carved out never to be changed.
Just one place separates the two sides at the moment and victory for either side on Saturday will see them end the game above the other so there is much to play for on the pride and bragging rights stakes even if nothing else.
It is an occasion where the size and importance of it in this area of the country is not lost on the Swans boss. “We know the scale of the game, we know we have a chance to make a lot of people very happy,” he added.
“We have to put that into emotional context for the boys over the coming days because they need to be aware of what it is going to take to go there and try and win because there is a good reason why no-one has been able to do the double before.”
The game at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday kicks off at 3pm.
