Swansea City v Cardiff City - Match Preview Saturday, 4th Apr 2009 21:23 Battle lines have been drawn for the third time this season as Cardiff City prepare to host arch rivals Swansea at Ninan Park. The Swans may have dropped down the table but are still within touching distance of a play off spot but with the margin of error growing ever thinner, even Swansea manager Roberto Martinez is still showing all the signs of hunger for the possible play-off fight ahead of him and his players as he outlined to the Western Mail, he said , “We can still get there with 72 or 73 points – to do that will mean very little margin for error but this is still a fantastic chance for us. As far as I am concerned, we are in a great position with six vital games ahead of us – all the ingredients to be very excited.” “It is no good for us to get into the play-offs unless we get there on a good run. It’s the same for any team getting into the play-offs – they need to get there being as strong as they can be otherwise the play-offs are a lottery; it’s taken out of your hands and more often than not it ends in disappointment. That's why I’m not really looking at the points, the performance is vital. How we handle the occasion and how “ Tommorow's game at Ninan Park will mark the last derby clash to be staged at the 99 year old ground but for midfielder Leon Britton the chance to face Cardiff at the famous ground cannot come quick enough as he told the WM, he said “I would be gutted if I never got to play at Ninian Park before Cardiff move to their new stadium, you hear a lot about previous players going there and what the fans think of it and I want to sample all that.I’ve always wondered what it would be like to play there. And, whenever I come to Cardiff, it’s always a question of, ‘Where’s Ninian Park?’” He adds “I want to see what it is all about there. I have heard all the tales and I’m looking forward to playing there.Everyone talks about Ninian Park having an intimidating atmosphere with the fans so close to the pitch,” he said. “I suppose it’s a bit similar to the Vetch.” “It might not the most beautiful ground, but it works for Cardiff, like the Vetch did for us, because opposition teams won’t like going there. It’s a unique situation because there aren’t many grounds like it in the league anymore.We just have to rise above it, though. We know it’s going to be quite intimidating and, with the fans close to the pitch, there will be a lot of noise and abuse. “If we’re talking about trying to keep things calm then why bring things like that up. It’s crazy.We will go out in a professional manner and I am sure Swansea will be the same.Now we have to make sure we keep ticking along and that’s what I’ll be telling the players.It’s an important game for them just as much as us.” “Everyone has to be responsible and just go out and play and that’s what we get paid for.We have to compete with them and be at our best as always. It has all the ingredients to be a good derby game, there will be lots of passion, lots of noise. But the tables are turned now in that we are at home and will have more fans and I am expecting them to make lots of noise. Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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