Image Credit: Sky Sports
By Lee Clow 12 January 2020 | Championship
The second South Wales derby of the season ended as a draw as both Cardiff City and Swansea City fired blank in a feisty encounter.
Going into the game, Swansea looked to create history by trying to complete a double over their rivals however Cardiff stayed strong and postponed the record for at least another season.
Much of the first half was dominated by Cardiff however, Swansea looked threating on the break with Wayne Routledge and Jordan Ayew on the wings as well as recently signed loanee Rhian Brewster up front.
Swan’s keeper, Freddie Woodman, had to be on guard in the first half when he denied headers from Curtis Nelson and Robert Glatzel.
Glatzel had another clear-cut chance when he caught the Swansea backline out, but the Bluebird striker scuffed his shot despite having time to pick his head up and compose his finish.
Swansea’s biggest chance of the first half came through Bersant Celina after Lee Tomlin gifted the ball away in the centre of the field. George Byers received the ball in the centre circle and travelled 20 yards before releasing it to Celina who shifted the ball onto his right foot and curled an almost inch perfect strike onto the post.
After an intense start to the derby, the atmosphere soon become red-hot and this was picked up by the players who started putting in a few meaty challenges as exchanging words between one another.
In the second half, the game lost its intensity with both sides failing to create any chances. Tomlin had a chance to break the deadlock however failed as he fired over from a tight angle.
Cardiff boss, Neil Harris, made a double change with 20 minutes to go, bringing on Josh Murphy and Callum Paterson, and this appeared to raise the home sides energy levels as they searched for an important winner.
Late in the game, the Bluebird’s substitutes combined in what was their best chance of the game. Murphy excellently charged down the left before lifting a deep cross to Paterson, who rose above Ben Wilmot and powered a header at goal, only to see it crash against the bar.
Ayew had Swansea’s first shot on target after 80 minutes but the former West Ham winger’s shot was easily caught by Alex Smithies in the Cardiff goal.
There was no sign of a last-minute winner as both sides accepted the draw. The result means Swansea move one point ahead of Millwall and Bristol City on 42 points in seventh, while Cardiff move up one place to 12th.
After the game, Cardiff boss Neil Harris stated how pleased he was with his side's display and reaction in the derby, he said: "Pleased with a lot of the stuff out there. The clean sheet first and foremost, I know they hit the post, but we didn't give too much away,"
"Really pleased from that perspective against a good footballing side. Some passages of play in the first half were really good and we got into really good areas. The chance second half, which was a lot more scrappy and a lot more like a local derby. I said to the lads we have to use the ball better at times and keep the ball.”
"To get a clean sheet off the back of conceding six is fantastic and it's a group effort, not just the players on the pitch. Positives in the play, loads of it. We're a work in progress as a group and there is a long way to go. It was everything I expected from a derby and I thought we were better first half than Swansea. It's pleasing that we started in such a positive manner."
Swansea manager Steve Cooper also gave his thoughts after the game: "We're frustrated, to be honest. We came here to win and felt we had the right game plan and picked the right team,"
"We had good moments in the first half, hit the post and was the team that was trying to play with the ball and create proper chances. I thought the game lacked a bit of quality. I know the grass was really long and it was hard to get the rhythm going.
What’s next?
Cardiff have a mammoth trip to Carlisle on Wednesday night for an FA Cup third round replay, before travelling to Birmingham City next Saturday. Swansea host struggling Wigan Athletic on the same day.
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