Rob DaviesThis Swansea City team have the opportunity to write themselves into the history books by being the first side to win both derby matches against Cardiff City in a single season.
The feat is yet to happen throughout the two club’s histories and following the 3-0 dismantling of the Bluebirds back in October, Russell Martin and his team will be hungry for more.
Perhaps that isn’t the only story of the day as the Swans return from the international break off the back of some indifferent form – although largely no worse or better than Cardiff’s despite the Welsh media’s lavished praise – with performances perhaps the most alarming factor.
Indeed back in October it looked like Martin had started to reap the rewards of the time spent with his squad with performances on the pitch blending with some promising results, but it didn’t really pan out that way thereafter.
Swansea looked as toothless and lacklustre as they have in any game this term against Birmingham City and had the scoreline been 3-0 in the opposite direction few would have complained.
It was a really hard watch as has been most of the season and in order to keep the fans onside, there’s nothing like a result against your bitterest rivals for buying time to get things right.
Results have been as mixed as the displays have, but Martin will be hoping that Jamie Patterson and Flynn Downes’ returns will make an impact.
Cardiff will be buoyant and all the pressure will be on them to deliver on their own patch, but a meek and timid display as we’ve seen in recent months would not be acceptable by any means.
Martin and his players know this, it’s now up to them to do what they need to do on the football pitch – either way there will be a ripple effect either way.
