A fantastic afternoon of total football tore apart a very one dimensional Cardiff City team in the South Wales derby. The Swansea way proves to be the winner in a football master class.

Swansea City were magnificent in an early kick off with long term rivals Cardiff City. And let’s not forget Cardiff came in to the game on the back of a four game winning run. However, when it comes to the best defence in the league coupled with a desire by Jamal Lowe to stamp his authority on Cardiff, the result was never in doubt. From the off the swans played their game with Ben Cabango reduced to the bench but Naughton, Bennett and Roberts with Guehi and Bidwell were never really bothered by Cardiff City’s high ball game throughout.

A fantastic move between Lowe and Bidwell resulting in a cross the box header by Roberts saw Lowe force the ball home by a despondent Alex Smithies. The defending was poor, but then when your game is based around fifty metre balls to Kieffer Moore, with little defensive strength, then Cardiff manager Neil Harris has nothing to complain about. It was totally deserved and a well worked corner routine which saw Swans Captain Grimes shoot from twenty yards hitting the far post was another severe warning for the Bluebirds. The truth is Cardiff never looked like scoring in the first half and throughout the game they were out thought, out played and made to look totally devoid of any answer to a fluid and well versed swans side. Steve Cooper will be extremely happy with the half time lead and surprisingly in the second half Cardiff looked even more like their half time cuppa was filled with pasty anaemia and an energy zapping fluid only a journeyman manager could muster. It was embarrassing for Harris, and even more so for his front man Moore who oddly left the pitch injured part way through the second half. Swansea born Mark Harris was totally lost up front for Cardiff and the expensive Harry Wilson on loan from Liverpool was non existent. Cardiff fans will be excused for thinking he wasn’t even on the pitch. His contribution was insignificant.

It was Korey Smith and Matt Grimes who made the magnificent swans tick, the tireless Connor Roberts adding an attacking flair that Cardiff could not defend against. The game got so frustrating for Cardiff Joe Rawls was sent off after eight dreadful infringements, and it has to be said the swans lack of finishing flair at this point saved them further embarrassment. Ayew came more in to the game, Lowe too, as his first half poor hold up play was replaced by a man who wanted the win more than anyone on the pitch. And what an answer to his critics Lowe provided. Pushing forwards against a Cardiff defence in panic he hit a sublime outside of the foot shot to make the game two nil to the swans. Lowe will be delighted, he has run and run for the shirt this season and his reward today was two goals in a superb swans win.

Guehi at the back with the fortunate Ryan Bennett who many Cardiff fans will say should have been sent off for a potential second yellow card were solid with Naughton cleaning up any threat Cardiff could impose on the game. However, even if Bennett had received his marching orders the swans would have won this game. There is a huge gulf between the strategies of Neil Harris and the swans manager Steve Cooper. Lumping balls the length of a football pitch may well have worked for Vinnie Jones and John Fashanu all those years ago, but it doesn’t work against a football side who have worked hard on being well drilled, who pass the football positively and believe in their coaching team and football club. Full game gallery photographs to follow.

Swansea City won today’s game two nil, it could have been far more. And the double, the first ever double in South Wales derby history is on for the swans. There’s no excuses for Neil Harris tonight, he lost the game through naivety and a lack of strangely on the pitch. He should just be happy it wasn’t more.

Cardiff City: Smithies; Bacuna, Morrison (C), Nelson, Bennett; Wilson, Vaulks (Whyte 90), Ralls, Ojo; Harris (Pack 77), Moore (Glatzel 55).

Subs not used: Phillips, Murphy, Benkovic, Cunningham, Samba, Bagan.

Yellow cards: Morrison 17, Moore 35, Ralls 46 & 67

Red card: Ralls 67

Swansea City: Woodman; Naughton, Bennett, Guehi; Roberts, Smith, Fulton, Grimes (C), Bidwell; Lowe (Routledge 86), Ayew.

Subs not used: Benda, Latibeaudiere, Manning, Cabango, Dhanda, Palmer, Gyokeres, Cullen.

Goals: Lowe 6 & 72

Yellow cards: Bennett 14, Guehi 35

Referee: Mr J Brooks

Photo: Action Images

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