History has repeated itself once more. Neither Cardiff City or Swansea City have ever done the double of each other in a league fixture. A drab 0-0 continued that record in a South Wales Derby that lacked quality and a cutting edge.
Lack of Quality Shows as Cardiff City and Swansea City Play Out Drab South Wales Derby
Cardiff Physicality Puts Pressure on Swansea Defence
The opening exchanges had all the hallmarks of a typical derby day encounter. It was scrappy and fast-paced, lacking an edge of quality.
However, tactics were prevailing for Neil Harris’ side. They targeted the young Swans defence, bullying them into physical encounters. Balls were flying high into the box from the left-hand side and then the right, trying to force a mistake from their opponents.
However, Swansea were holding their own. Ben Wilmot and Benjamin Cabango matched their South Wales rivals and kept Cardiff’s lone striker Robert Glatzel quiet for much of the game, an all too familiar tale for the German striker since his arrival in the summer.
Not the Day to Be a Striker
Chances were few and between for both sides, and when they came, they were really from either striker.
Rhian Brewster struggled on his Swansea debut, having only joined earlier in the week on loan from Liverpool. His small stature could not compete with Curtis Nelson and Sean Morrison at the heart of the Cardiff defence.
Instead, Steve Cooper’s tried to utilise Brewster’s pace, waiting for patient openings before releasing him to run the channels.
Swansea’s lack of attacking threat was shown in their lack of shots on target. It took until the 80th minute for the Swans to test Alex Smithies when Andre Ayew cut inside and fired a shot straight at the Cardiff keeper.
While tactics were different, it was the same story at the other end of the pitch for Cardiff and Robert Glatzel. The 26-year-old saw the ball sparingly, a feat that saw him substituted in the 70th minute.
Lack of Quality Reflective of League Positions
The game’s poor quality reflected the two sides’ position in the Championship. Swansea looked the more promising, with a young side that are lacking a goalscorer that would undoubtedly help push for a play-off spot.
Cardiff showed that they were a side in transition, under the still relatively new Neil Harris in the dugout. A mid-table finish is perhaps the best that they can hope for after relegation from the Premier League last season.
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