Messageboards haven't stopped talking about it for a couple of weeks - it's not as if Wales haven't given too much to discuss, is it? - and newspapers/radio have gone into overdrive but this blog has held back from mentioning in any detail that this Sunday sees the Face-Off that is Cardiff City vs Swansea City, the first league clash in Cardiff between the sides for 10 years, almost certainly the last ever at Ninian Park (subject to play-offs) and the biggest game between the sides for 30 years.
Personally, I will forever despise The Wurzels and see them as the team to hate but there's no denying Swansea are right up there are rivals - their hatred for Cardiff seems to mean as much to them as their support for their club - and for the majority of Cardiff fans who have only supported the club for 20 years, Swansea are the team to beat. A feeling increased after Cardiff were well beaten in a Carling Cup tie at Liberty this season, it was 1-0 but Cardiff were played off the park, then had to settle for a 2-2 when in control of the league encounter, both games featuring then Captain Steve McPhail being sent off.
One of the Banners
Awaiting Swansea's Trip
To The Capital on Sunday
The stakes are high, Cardiff occupy the last play-off spot, albeit with games in hand so still harbour hopes of an automatic promotion place but key at present is ensuring they achieve play-offs as a minimum. The Swans are 2 places but 5 points behind The Bluebirds but have played 2 games more. With just 6 games left for them, surely nothing other than victory is good enough.
It's a contrast from last time at Ninian Park. April 1999 saw just over 10,000 punters in the ground for a 0-0 draw, a game taking place in what is now League Two. Cardiff's side that day - Seamus Kelly, Wayne O'Sullivan, Andy Legg, Graham Mitchell, Jeff Echardt, Mark Bonner, Jason Fowler, Mike Ford, John Williams, Kevin Nugent and Craig Middleton. Two ex-Jacks featured as subs in Jason Bowen and Dai Thomas while the 3rd sub was Danny Hill. The Jacks side featured Kristian O'Leary, who is still with them, and Roger (Twenty)Freestone and ex-Bluebird Tony Bird. You can say there's been progress since!!
Several players have returned from international duty and none with problems but Cardiff have have Gabor Gyepes suspended after the first red card of his career vs Sheffield United a fortnight ago was upheld while Paul Parry, who is unlikely to start anyway, is troubled by an ongoing knee problem.
Darren Purse - who has apparently delayed a nose op - is the natural choice to cover Gyepes at centre-half but don't rule out Kevin McNaughton getting the nod after his man of the match role against Sheffield United with, maybe, Blake or Comminges at right back.
Dave Jones' other dilemma is how to combine his attacking options with Bothroyd, McCormack, Chopra and even Eddie Johnson all having variable claims. Logic would suggest the on-fire McCormack and Bothroyd up front but it is more likely Jones will harness Chops and Both with McCormack pushed wide as he played for Scotland very successfully.
Swansea's main problem will be assessing the state and fitness of their talisman forward Jason Scotland who returns from World Cup games in the Carribean later today. Cardiff fans will be keen to welcome Alan Tait who is apparently winnign a fitness battle to play centre back. Infamously, along with Alan Trundle, he proved himself to be a prize pillock holding offensive anto-Cardiff slogans when Swansea won the Mickey Mouse cup at Millennium Stadium a couple of years ago. Ninian Park will be white hot on Sunday anyway, Tait's presence will send the fervour into orbit.
The game kicks off 11am in front of a sell out crowd and 1,500 travelling Jacks escorted on a bubble bus only trip. It's the earliest ever Sunday start in league football history but has more to do with Sky wanting to show 3 day long Derby games than police intervention alone.
48 hours to go then ... ... ...
Personally, I will forever despise The Wurzels and see them as the team to hate but there's no denying Swansea are right up there are rivals - their hatred for Cardiff seems to mean as much to them as their support for their club - and for the majority of Cardiff fans who have only supported the club for 20 years, Swansea are the team to beat. A feeling increased after Cardiff were well beaten in a Carling Cup tie at Liberty this season, it was 1-0 but Cardiff were played off the park, then had to settle for a 2-2 when in control of the league encounter, both games featuring then Captain Steve McPhail being sent off.
One of the Banners
Awaiting Swansea's Trip
To The Capital on Sunday
The stakes are high, Cardiff occupy the last play-off spot, albeit with games in hand so still harbour hopes of an automatic promotion place but key at present is ensuring they achieve play-offs as a minimum. The Swans are 2 places but 5 points behind The Bluebirds but have played 2 games more. With just 6 games left for them, surely nothing other than victory is good enough.
It's a contrast from last time at Ninian Park. April 1999 saw just over 10,000 punters in the ground for a 0-0 draw, a game taking place in what is now League Two. Cardiff's side that day - Seamus Kelly, Wayne O'Sullivan, Andy Legg, Graham Mitchell, Jeff Echardt, Mark Bonner, Jason Fowler, Mike Ford, John Williams, Kevin Nugent and Craig Middleton. Two ex-Jacks featured as subs in Jason Bowen and Dai Thomas while the 3rd sub was Danny Hill. The Jacks side featured Kristian O'Leary, who is still with them, and Roger (Twenty)Freestone and ex-Bluebird Tony Bird. You can say there's been progress since!!
Several players have returned from international duty and none with problems but Cardiff have have Gabor Gyepes suspended after the first red card of his career vs Sheffield United a fortnight ago was upheld while Paul Parry, who is unlikely to start anyway, is troubled by an ongoing knee problem.
Darren Purse - who has apparently delayed a nose op - is the natural choice to cover Gyepes at centre-half but don't rule out Kevin McNaughton getting the nod after his man of the match role against Sheffield United with, maybe, Blake or Comminges at right back.
Dave Jones' other dilemma is how to combine his attacking options with Bothroyd, McCormack, Chopra and even Eddie Johnson all having variable claims. Logic would suggest the on-fire McCormack and Bothroyd up front but it is more likely Jones will harness Chops and Both with McCormack pushed wide as he played for Scotland very successfully.
Swansea's main problem will be assessing the state and fitness of their talisman forward Jason Scotland who returns from World Cup games in the Carribean later today. Cardiff fans will be keen to welcome Alan Tait who is apparently winnign a fitness battle to play centre back. Infamously, along with Alan Trundle, he proved himself to be a prize pillock holding offensive anto-Cardiff slogans when Swansea won the Mickey Mouse cup at Millennium Stadium a couple of years ago. Ninian Park will be white hot on Sunday anyway, Tait's presence will send the fervour into orbit.
The game kicks off 11am in front of a sell out crowd and 1,500 travelling Jacks escorted on a bubble bus only trip. It's the earliest ever Sunday start in league football history but has more to do with Sky wanting to show 3 day long Derby games than police intervention alone.
48 hours to go then ... ... ...
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