Phil Sumbler
The Swans will this weekend go into the second South Wales clash of the season knowing that avoiding defeat is essential and a victory is really needed to lift the mood on what has been a pretty dreadful season all round.
The mood of the supporters can only be best judged by the reactions at the fans forum on Monday evening which saw some difficult questions posed to both club Chairman Andy Coleman and Sporting Director Paul Watson.
For the purposes of this weekend though those questions should go on the backburner as we set out to avoid Cardiff achieving a first ever league double over the Swans and break our dominance over this fixture over the past twenty years.
As part of the build up to that clash on Saturday lunchtime we end our look back at fixtures from the past ending with the day we created history at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff City 0 Swansea City 4
02 April 2022
IT’S A DOUBLE AS MARTIN’S MEN RIP BLUEBIRDS APART – THE PLANET SWANS MATCH REPORT
Cardiff City were thumped, annihilated, destroyed and humiliated on their own patch as a jubilant and dominant Swansea City trashed the Bluebirds 4-0 to take bragging rights in the home and away fixture for the first time ever.
Michael Obafemi scored twice – and did the swimaway – whilst Hannes Wolf and Ben Cabango netted in the second half to make it an outstanding day out in the ‘Capitol.’
In a result few expected, the media build up consisted of an apparent resurgent Cardiff side looking to walk over an inconsistent Swans with even Wales Online’s editors all predicting a positive result for the home team.
What was to come was nothing of the sort as Russell Martin’s team made it a wonderful day for the Swansea faithful with a thumping display to make it seven unanswered goals against the Bluebirds this term.
Martin made three alterations from the team that drew 0-0 with Birmingham before the international break with Jamie Paterson, Flynn Downes and Joel Latibeaudiere coming into the starting eleven at the expense of Olivier Ntcham, Korey Smith and Finley Burns.
Fisher
Latibeaudiere – Naughton – Cabango
Christie – Downes – Grimes – Wolf
Piroe – Obafemi – Paterson
The cards were marked when within thirty seconds Michael Obafemi should have found the net, but he didn’t have long to wait as his form continues to flourish when he opened the scoring.
He played a clever one two with Jamie Paterson and the his ball across the box was slammed home by the Irish international to cue jubilant scenes in the away end.
It’s been a tough old season but that along with all we saw today suggested brighter times are most certainly ahead.
It was almost a surprise how unprepared Steve Morison and his team seemed to be, with his opposite number clearly winning the tactical battle as the Swans dominated throughout but with purpose and positivity not seen enough this campaign.
Matt Grimes and Wolf both had good opportunities as the Swans looked to seize further control of a game there for the taking before half time, but a goal wasn’t to come.
In fact Jordan Hugill could have levelled for the home team but his effort was blocked for a corner and it was crosses into the box that was the only real threat to a comfortable back three.
Piroe and Obafemi had further chances before half time but it wasn’t to be, surely the Bluebirds would come out fired up for the second half with only a single goal in it?
It was the opposite, there was even more intensity from Swansea as the team looked to seal the points and that all important league double.
The game was all but sealed when Matt Grimes received a ball from a corner kick and his shot was deflected to Ben Cabango on the right side of the box.
Remember that the Welsh defender was rejected by Cardiff as a youth player – perhaps he recalled that as his clean strike slammed into the bottom corner for even more celebrations in the away end.
Isaak Davies threatened to reduce the deficit with a header which went narrowly wide before Martin’s dominant team ripped Cardiff City to shreds.
Cyrus Christie carried the ball forward on the right and delivered an inch perfect ball for his fellow wing back Wolf to head home past a stranded Alex Smithies for dreamland and number three. Who’d have thought?
Every single player delivered an exceptional performance and full credit must go to the manager for his game plan which blew Cardiff City away as much as any individual.
As the stadium began to empty more and more – a far cry from the triumphant scenes when Wales beat Austria last week at the same ground – Swansea went for the kill and got an excellent fourth goal.
Wolf and Paterson combined again on the left to set up Obafemi who clinically slammed the ball right footed into the top corner away from Smithies to really rub salt into the wounds.
It was as comprehensive as it could ever be, to win like this at Cardiff is an outstanding feat and one that will not be forgotten for some time.
The team has also made history and stood up to the critics (and fans) who have suggested that they have underperformed this season.
Tonight, all that is forgotten about after a simply superb win that will put a smile on the face of every Swansea fan. Because just like the first team to gain promotion the Premier League, we are the first to complete the double.
This term, for all its problems, will finish with an aggregate score of
Cardiff City 0-7 Swansea City
The sublime win will be remembered in history and all the players deserve the credit that will come their way as a result.
Joyous scenes, Gareth Bale I’m sure Connor Roberts will be giving you a call in the coming hours. There’s only one way to end this match report.
