Swansea City and Cardiff City will go head to head at the Liberty Stadium with Steve Cooper saying clearly \u201cWe all know this is as big as it gets in South Wales” but is it really as big when the fans are not there to create the atmosphere.<\/p>\n
Now, don’t get me wrong, this means as much to the fans who will be forced to watch the live TV coverage tomorrow as it would do would there be the capacity crowd inside the Liberty that this game would command.\u00a0 But when the game kicks off at 5.30pm the atmosphere inside the ground will be the same as it was when Middlesbrough were there two weeks back and any of the other games we have played at home in the past twelve months.<\/p>\n
It is therefore difficult to imagine that the intensity that was there the last time Cardiff visited the Liberty will be matched without that atmosphere emanating from the stands?<\/p>\n
There will be players on both sides who understand the importance of this fixture in terms of bragging rights across the area but the large majority of the players – without that atmosphere – will see this as just another game for both sides.<\/p>\n
Wayne Routledge is someone who doesn’t believe it is any less without the absence of the fans as he explained yesterday on the official Swans website\u00a0\u201cDerby week is a different week, that\u2019s for sure,<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, with the pandemic, it is slightly different but it doesn\u2019t take the gloss off derby day.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s consuming and draining, and you can\u2019t get away from it. The media are all over it, social media is buzzing, but you have to maintain your focus and prepare yourself properly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had my fair share of it now, and I\u2019ll help my team-mates in any way possible in dealing with what comes our way in the build-up to the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a fan the anticipation for the game certainly feels better.\u00a0 A 530pm Saturday kick off would only build to that anticipation as the home fans start to gather in the vicinity of the stadium to enjoy the pre-match drinks and catch up before slowly adding to the atmosphere in the ground as it starts to fill up.\u00a0 \u00a0Generally by kick off the ground feels more electric and the feeling of anticipation kicks in as this becomes a game that you really really don’t want to lose.<\/p>\n
It is a game for me that matches no other as you feel the nerves when they attack and you almost will the ball towards the goal every time we attack.\u00a0 \u00a0The feeling if they score is one of complete emptiness but the feeling when we score is one rarely matched by any goals in any season.<\/p>\n