{"id":52372,"date":"2021-03-19T11:52:26","date_gmt":"2021-03-19T11:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/?p=52372"},"modified":"2021-03-20T14:02:32","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T14:02:32","slug":"can-cardiff-city-prevent-swansea-from-sealing-first-ever-derby-double","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/thecardiffian\/2021\/03\/19\/can-cardiff-city-prevent-swansea-from-sealing-first-ever-derby-double\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Cardiff City prevent Swansea from sealing first-ever derby double?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bluebirds are in better form than their fierce rivals, but risk being on the wrong side of history<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

THEY say that the form book goes out of the window on derby day, but Cardiff City will be hoping that old clich\u00e9 does not ring true this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is because the Bluebirds have lost only one of their 13 Championship matches since Mick McCarthy took over from Neil Harris in January, which has put them in contention for a place in this year\u2019s play-offs.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, Steve Cooper\u2019s Swansea side, who are third in the table with a game in hand, have lost on three occasions in the same period of time, including a 3-0 defeat against Bournemouth on Tuesday night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff, who sit in ninth, are preparing for the derby having been frustrated by Stoke City, which brought a strong reaction from the manager.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s the first time I have had a raised voice\u201d, said McCarthy.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I wasn’t happy first half. I thought the performance was way below what we have set our standards at and we needed to up it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cardiff supporters will still hold some optimism ahead of the derby based on both sides\u2019 recent form, but they will be acutely aware of the significance of losing tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Neither side has ever done the double over the other, which means that Swansea could make history tomorrow with a win at the Liberty Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Swansea ran out 2-0 winners at Cardiff City Stadium in December thanks to a brace from Jamal Lowe. Cardiff struggled to find a foothold in the game, which was not helped by midfielder Joe Ralls receiving his marching orders in the second half for a second bookable offence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The prospect of a first-ever South Wales derby double is not one that Swansea are taking lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In his pre-match press conference, Cooper said: <\/a> “There’s a first for everything and if Saturday is that time, then brilliant, we have to go for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I would much rather be going into it knowing you can do the double rather than the other team do it, that’s for sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Regardless of where you play the game, when you play the game, league positions, it all goes out of the window. It’s a massive rivalry and an important one for South Wales.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so much at stake, can Cardiff maintain their strong run of form and prevent an unwelcome chapter being written into Wales’s football history books, or will Swansea finally \u2018do the double\u2019?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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