By Paul Jones
Joe Allen has told his Swansea City teammates they have to improve if they are to have any hope of keeping their arm lock on rivals Cardiff City this weekend.
The former Wales midfielder will be part of a Swans team looking for a fifth successive derby victory over the Bluebirds when they visit the capital on Saturday night.
But their form so far this season has been unimpressive, with just two draws and no victories in their Championship campaign so far.
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The latest of their three defeats came at home to Bristol City in the week before the international break and Allen says only a big improvement in performance can give them a chance of extending their current record of four straight derby victories.
“I am pretty sure everyone here already knows and understands the magnitude of this next game,” said the former Wales international.
“We know we have to do better, it is vital that we do, it is as simple as that, and it is a huge game coming up to try and set things right.
“We’ve had a poor result and poor performance at home, we have had good spells in games, but it is about making sure we stretch that out over a full 90 minutes.
“We have no option other than to dust ourselves down and be better.”
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Cardiff have lost their last four league games against Swansea – the longest run of victories by either side in this South Wales derby.
Swansea have won their last three league visits to Cardiff, having only won five of their first 29 English Football League games at the Bluebirds between 1929 and 2020 (W5 D10 L14).
Cardiff are without a clean sheet in their last 16 Championship games, the longest current run of any Championship side. They last went longer without a shutout between August 2021 and January 2022 (25 games).
But Swansea have dropped the most points from winning positions in the Championship this season (6), losing their last two after going 1-0 ahead.
Cardiff, meanwhile, have failed to win either of their two games this season after going 2-0 ahead (drew 2-2 with Leeds, lost 3-2 to Ipswich).
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There were 15 passes in the build-up to Aaron Ramsey’s goal against Ipswich Town last time out, the most in the build-up to a Championship goal scored by Cardiff City since December 2015 (Tony Watt vs Bolton, also 15 passes).
“You have got to give credit to Swansea,” says former Cardiff and W ales midfielder Joe Ledley.
“They have dominated the last few derbies and it’s been disappointing from a Cardiff perspective.
“I don’t think they have been on the front foot in the recent games, they have sat in too deep.
“But I have been excited with Cardiff this season. Yeah results haven’t gone our way, we have been unlucky, but I have watched the first two home games.
“There is a lot of positivity around the stadium. Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) has brought in massive experience and that creativity as well.
“They are scoring goals which they didn’t have last season. I think if we can just sort out the defensive situations, we are in for a fantastic game.”
