CARDIFF HEAD TO VICTORY
FLINT’S HEADER SEES BLUEBIRDS TAKE REVENGE ON THE SWANS
ADEN Flint’s bullet-header earned Cardiff City the South Wales derby bragging rights as they beat Swansea City at the Liberty Stadium. The defender headed home early on as the Bluebirds impressed from the outset.
However, the Swans dominated the second period and threw everything at their local rivals – with Andre Ayew, Morgan Whittaker, Korey Smith and Jamal Lowe all having chances to net an equaliser while Wales duo Harry Wilson and Kieffer Moore spurned chances for the away side.
But Cardiff held on to clinch a vital three points that saw them close the gap to the Championship’s top six to just four points, while Swansea are now six points adrift of second -placed Watford after suffering back-to-back league defeats for the first time this season.
The Swans made four changes from their 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, the most eye-catching of which saw Whittaker make his first start for the club in place of December’s derby hero Lowe.
Marc Guehi was deemed fit to start following a brief absence with a groin issue, while Jay Fulton and Jake Bidwell also came in – with Joel Latibeaudiere, Korey Smith and Ryan Manning all dropping to the bench.
The Bluebirds have something of a crisis on the left side of defence, and they were forced to deploy Joe Ralls as a left wing-back as defender Perry Ng missed out due to a knee problem.
The other alteration from their 0-0 draw with Stoke City saw Wilson – who came close to joining the Swans last summer – start in place of Sheyi Ojo.
Despite the fierce nature of the fixture, both sets of players united before kick-off by wearing T-shirts with the message “We are with you, Bamba” on the back in support of Cardiff defender Sol Bamba who is currently battling cancer.
They also took part in a period of silence in memory of those who have died in Wales during the coronavirus pandemic.
But the action was fast-paced once referee Paul Tierney got the game underway, and Dillon Phillips was forced into a smart save to keep out Conor Hourihane’s free-kick inside five minutes.
However, the visitors went ahead just three minutes later as Will Vaulks’ long throw-in wreaked havoc in the Swansea box, and after Freddie Woodman clawed away Marlon Pack’s initial effort, Flint was on hand to head home what was his first goal of the campaign.
It will no doubt have proven to be a moment to savour for the Cardiff faithful who had not been able to celebrate a goal against their south Wales rivals since Steven Caulker bagged the winner in the capital in November 2013.
The Bluebirds continued to ooze confidence, and that showed as Vaulks’ sublime ball over the top of Swansea’s defence sent Leandro Bacuna through on goal, although Woodman was able to keep out the Curacao international’s strike.
Having made such a positive start, Mick McCarthy’s men were given a further lift as Hourihane was forced off through injury after just 18 minutes – with Smith coming on in his place.
As has often been the case in recent weeks, Swansea looked blunt in the final third. Cardiff were taking full advantage as they won the 50-50s while putting slick passing moves together when needed.
Although having gone ahead from a set-piece, they were clearly willing to be direct when needed – with Vaulks’ long punt forward being headed inches wide by Sean Morrison midway through the opening half.
After a sluggish start, Swansea
slowly got a grip on the game towards the end of the half, although after being the victim of a late tackle from Vaulks, Fulton was unable to bend an effort on target from just outside the Cardiff box 10 minutes before the break.
Moore then got his head in the way of Matt Grimes’ fierce strike from a well-worked corner before Bacuna was unable to stretch to prod home the Wales striker’s cross at the other end as Cardiff started to drop deeper.
But the visitors were presented with a glorious opportunity to double their lead just before half-time as Woodman gifted the ball to Moore, although Ryan Bennett was on hand to clear off his own line to spare his goalkeeper’s blushes after what was a tame shot from the Cardiff frontman.
Steve Cooper had clearly had some stern words with his players at the interval, and they were on the front foot early on in the second half.
Whittaker was denied by Phillips after spinning and shooting inside the box shortly after the restart – but even when the Swans controlled possession, Cardiff’s compact defence stood up to the challenge.
Swansea were gifted the chance to level proceedings 11 minutes after the break after Ayew brilliantly controlled the ball before being fouled just outside the Cardiff box – but the Ghanaian couldn’t direct his freekick on target.
But they continued to apply pressure, and Whittaker was unable to keep an effort on target after latching onto Ayew’s flick-on prior to the hour mark.
Cardiff continued to invite pressure, although they almost stunned Swansea with a swift counter attack midway through the second period as Moore fed Wilson who cut inside from the right wing before firing at Woodman, only to see the Newcastle United loanee palm away the effort.
With just shy of 20 minutes to go, Swansea thought they had made it 1-1 as Ayew found space in the box from Connor Roberts’ corner, only to see his glancing header strike the outside of Phillips’ post.
Cooper went for broke with 15 minutes left as Lowe and Manning replaced Kyle Naughton and Jake Bidwell respectively shortly after Josh Murphy had come on for Bacuna.
Smith was unable to direct a driven shot on target as Cardiff’s goal continued to live a charmed life – although the Bluebirds’ defensive efforts were summed up as Morrison threw his body in front of Whittaker’s rasping strike before Yan Dhanda replaced Fulton.
Lowe then had a shot blocked before the referee waved away Swansea’s appeals for a penalty for handball against Vaulks in his own box.
And Swansea knew it would not be their day when Whittaker fired wide in the final stages before being denied by Phillips in injury time as Cardiff held on to ensure they avoided becoming the first-ever side to be doubled in the fixture.