Obafemi rises to derby challenge as records tumble
MICHAEL OBAFEMI drove a bulldozer through a stacked 110-year history between these clubs to leave Cardiff’s recent revival in ruins.
The Swansea striker scored his team’s first and last goals as they totally outclassed their rivals with their biggest Welsh derby victory since 1949.
Obafemi’s destruction – which sandwiched goals from Ben Cabango and Hannes Wolf – also demolished one of Welsh football’s best known and quirkiest statistics.
No club had previously done a league double over the other in over a century of trying.
But that record can now be swept away with the postmatch debris.
“There’s only one team in Wales,” chanted delirious Swansea fans as they inflicted a humiliating defeat on their closest and bitterest rivals.
Judged on this result – and the 3-0 home victory in October – that claim rings true, though elsewhere on their travels the Swans have often been fragile.
For that reason, this victory still leaves them back in 16th place in the Championship – one place above Cardiff – and the task for head coach Russell Martin is to bring consistency next season.
“This is the best moment I have had as a manager, without doubt,” said Martin.
“We were clinical and that is something we have not always been this season.
“And we showed the team we can be and I hope it is a small reward to the supporters for the patience they have shown us.”
Martin has plenty to build on, with dominant displays all across the field, including from Obafemi, who has now scored eight goals in 11 games.
The ex-Southampton man scored just once in his first 15 matches but Martin added: “He’s showing glimpses of his potential and hopefully he’ll be a really big player for us.”
Obafemi led the charge when he swept home the first goal after just six minutes following a sublime exchange of passes with Jamie Paterson. Cardiff boy Cabango then thumped home the second from a corner just before the hour, before Wolf headed home a third.
By the time Obafemi curled home a delicious fourth goal, many demoralised home fans were already hurrying through the exits.
The Bluebirds had won three and drawn one of their previous four games, but this was their biggest defeat under manager Steve Morison.
“It’s the losing that hurts,” he said.
“We have been on an incredible run and we have let everyone down – myself, my staff, the players, we haven’t done enough for this football club.
“It’s a worse defeat than we had earlier in the season.”