Swansea City vs Cardiff City Match Analysis and Prediction

2 years ago 449

Swansea City will be looking for a win that will likely see them move back into the Championship playoff spots when they head into the South Wales derby with Cardiff City.

When the Swans suffered a 4-0 defeat at Burnley last weekend, Russell Martin would have feared that his side’s previous fine form had come to an end.

That feeling was affirmed when Swansea found themselves trailing by two goals at home to Reading three days later, but the manner of their comeback suggests that they have the character to remain contenders for promotion to the Premier League.

Although Martin’s side shiiped six goals in three halves of football, their fightback to win 3-2 has left them seventh in the table and just three points adrift of leaders Queens Park Rangers.

Having picked up six wins from eight matches, there is an argument that Swansea are one of the form teams in the division, and motivation will rarely have been higher to overcome their rivals.

Cardiff City’s caretaker manager Mark Hudson would have thought at one stage that he was perfectly placed to earn the role on permanent basis, with seven points coming from his first three matches.

However, losing to Coventry City and Queens Park Rangers without scoring means that the result of Sunday’s derby could make or break his chances of remaining in the dugout on a long-term basis.

The chances for Cardiff in the latter game were hindered by the early red card for Jack Simpson, something that will not be lost on the club’s hierarchy.

Nevertheless, the Bluebirds have not suffered three successive defeats in the Championship since April, and Hudson knows that he needs to mastermind a turnaround in order to ensure that they do not become involved in a relegation battle, as they sit four points above 22nd place.

Swansea City vs Cardiff City head to head

These two teams have previously met on 25 occasions across all competitions, where Swansea have claimed 13 victories while Cardiff have won six, and they have drawn in six. Cardiff have scored 18 goals and conceded 36. In their last five meetings, Cardiff have won one, Swansea three with one draw.

Cardiff City 0-0 Swansea City 12/01/20

Cardiff City 0-2 Swansea City 12/12/20

Swansea City 0-1 Cardiff City 20/03/21

Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff City 17/10/21

Cardiff City 0-4 Swansea City 02/04/22

Swansea City latest home form

Swansea City have recently been on a relatively good run of form at home, having lost just one of their five most recent matches. They managed to defeat Reading 3-2 in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded four.

Swansea City 1-0 Queens Park Rangers 03/09/22

Swansea City 0-1 Sheffield United 13/09/22

Swansea City 3-0 Hull City 17/09/22

Swansea City 2-1 Sunderland 08/10/22

Swansea City 3-2 Reading 18/10/22

Swansea City latest away form

Swansea City have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their five most recent matches. They lost 4-0 to Burnley in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored seven goals and conceded 10.

Middlesbrough 2-1 Swansea City 27/08/22

Stoke City 1-1 Swansea City 31/08/22

West Bromwich Albion 2-3 Swansea City 01/10/22

Watford 1-2 Swansea City 05/10/22

Burnley 4-0 Swansea City 15/10/22

Cardiff City latest home form

Cardiff City have recently failed to keep a good run of form at home, having won just one of their five most recent matches. They lost 1-0 to Coventry City in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored three goals and conceded four.

Cardiff City 0-0 Preston North End 27/08/22

Cardiff City 1-2 Luton Town 30/08/22

Cardiff City 1-1 Burnley 01/10/22

Cardiff City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers 04/10/22

Cardiff City 0-1 Coventry City 15/10/22

Cardiff City latest away form

Cardiff City have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just two of their eight most recent matches. They lost 3-0 to QPR in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored six goals and conceded nine.

Millwall 2-0 Cardiff City 03/09/22

Middlesbrough 2-3 Cardiff City 13/09/22

Huddersfield Town 1-0 Cardiff City 17/09/22

Wigan Athletic 1-3 Cardiff City 08/10/22

Queens Park Rangers 3-0 Cardiff City 19/10/22

Swansea City news

Swansea City will again have to make do without top goalscorer Joel Piroe as he continues to serve a suspension for his dismissal at Burnley.

Martin could decide to select the side which started against Reading, although Olivier Ntcham is in contention for a recall if fresh legs are preferred.

Cardiff City news

Cardiff City will take to the pitch without Simpson through a ban, an absence that should lead to Curtis Nelson returning to the defence.

Further changes are expected with Jaden Philogene-Bidace and Joe Ralls also pushing for recalls to the side, with Hudson to decide whether to utilise a 5-3-2 or 4-3-3 formation.

Prediction and Odds

Given the rivalry between these two teams, we anticipate a more competitive match than the league positions suggest.

However, we cannot ignore the form of Swansea City and we believe that they should have enough quality in the final third to edge this contest and come away with all three points.

Odds: 1 2.23 X 2.05 2 2.89