As Michael Duff takes his first experience of the South Wales derby this afternoon his opposite number, Erol Bulut, will be doing the same with both managers needing a win to kick start a season that has yet to progress far for either of them.
Duff is yet to experience a league win whilst Bulut can point to just one maximum return from their five games to date and both will want that to change this evening when the two sides separated by just a 40 mile stretch of motorway face up to each other.
Cardiff have been accused by their supporters of taking this fixture lightly in recent years and there have certainly been several instances of them losing their heads during the matches with the likes of Stephen McPhail, Joel Ralls and Callum Robinson all being examples of red cards that could easily have been avoided.
🗣️ "IT'S A MOMENT OF MADNESS FROM CALLUM ROBINSON" 🤯
HE'S OFF IN THE OPENING SEVEN MINUTES ⏰ pic.twitter.com/V5ray0v2l0
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 23, 2022
Robinson saw red as early as the seventh minute last season when he was sent off for pushing the ball into the face of Ben Cabango and the game – already an uphill task for Cardiff – became a procession as the Swans eased to a 2-0 victory.
It is clear that Bulut wants to avoid similar scenarios this season as he talked to the press ahead of the game earlier in the week “We have to manage our emotion, and that’s including myself on the line,” said Bulut.
“Over the next few days we will speak with the players and staff, and say that we need to be clever, and to control our aggression.
“The fans will be supporting us, but we have to stay calm on the field and play our game. We can bring a lot of positives from the last few games, and we want to bring those points into Saturday.
“Throughout the international break and during the week we’ve trained for this, and I know that my team, my players, know what is going on this Saturday.
“The fans are ready for the game, but the important thing is on Saturday our starting eleven have to be ready on the field. Our players will be ready for it, you can be sure.
“We have some small problems, and tomorrow we will have better results from one or two players. Generally most of the players will be available on the field and in the squad. If you have an injury, when it’s the derby you get fit.”