By David Williams
Russell Martin has urged his Swansea City players to grasp the opportunity to become history-makers in the derby at Cardiff City on Saturday.
The Swans head coach has suggested the chance to become the first Welsh team to do a league “double” over their rival should be another motivating factor when his team visit the Cardiff City Stadium.
Following the Swans’ 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture in October, the visitors have the chance to complete the first league double in the 110-year history of the fixture.
The two sides are separated by one place and two points, and have been on similar recent runs of Championship form.
Recent derby history is in the Swans favour, with four wins and a draw from the last six meetings.
Martin knows all form will go out the window come 3pm, but revealed: “It means a lot to us to have the chance to make history, but we have to embrace the challenge, it is nothing to be afraid of and we have to be ready to deliver.
“I feel the responsibility to everyone here. You arrive here and you immediately understand what it means to people who work here and live in the city.
“I am honoured to have that responsibility, this is a special club because of the people here.
Wakey Wakey ! It’s derby day on a Saturday afternoon ! #swans #swans #bluebirds #skybetchampionship #southwalesderby #swanseacity #russellmartin #steveMorison https://t.co/JxhVZaAuxs
— FansNetwork (@fansnetwork) April 2, 2022
“You feed off their passion and how they feel about the club. We feel the support they and the supporters have given us, and it has been incredible.
“We want to repay that. That is not all on one game, but if we can help make people’s lives a bit easier for however long a victory allows them to do that then that would be special.”
While this will be Martin’s second derby, skipper Matt Grimes is preparing for his sixth, having captained Swansea in all of his previous five.
He has three wins and a draw from that quintet of contests, and he echoed the sentiments of his head coach ahead of the big game.
“It’s important for the city. It’s a massive game for us, these are the games we want to play in and we’re all looking forward to it,” said the midfielder.
“Derbies are always tough. We played well in the first one this year and we’ll be looking to replicate that, but we know what a tough test it will be.
“Going there, it’ll be a hostile environment, and they’re a team on the up at the moment with some really good results. Like any derby, it’ll be a tough afternoon.
“They’ve had an upturn in form, but derby games stand by themselves. Form goes out of the window and we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“We are looking to make the derby double happen and they’ll be trying desperately to stop it.
Good morning to absolutely everyone but Swansea City fans. Let’s have it! 💙 #DerbyDay
— Christopher Howells (@c_howells) April 2, 2022
“It puts you in a good position when you win the first game, but we were in this position last year as well and didn’t manage to get it done.
“We’ll be fully focused on ourselves, we’ll try to make sure that our performance levels are high.
“It’s such a big game, there’s so much on it for both sets of fans and both cities. There’s no getting away from it, [to do the double] would be absolutely huge. We want to do it for the staff, the city and the fans.
“It would be massive, but we’re fully focused on our own performance and making sure we give the best account of ourselves possible.”
Cardiff manager Steve Morison was not in charge when the first match was played in October, which proved to be one of the final games in charge for then boss Mick McCarthy.
Morison has conceded his team are likely to concede plenty of possession to their rivals, but he is not unduly concerned and insists when the opportunities arrive for Cardiff – who have won three and drawn one of their last four games – they will be ready.
“We know how they like to play by dominating the ball, but it’ll be a case of trying to control the atmosphere and emotions,” said Morison.
Cardiff City manager Steve Morison said Gareth Bale told him they “must beat Swansea” while he was on international duty ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/dEmWa97m43
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) April 1, 2022
“When the moment comes, it’s about putting your stamp on the game.
“The players who’ve been training with us since the Stoke game have been working hard to remain match ready.
“We’re trying to build on everything that we’ve done so far, and everything is creeping up and going in the right direction.
“Our focus will be on winning the game, which will take care of that stat about no team doing the double over the other.
“It’s no different to not having won at QPR for 12 years, which we didn’t talk about before that game either.
“This will be my first game against Swansea – it’s nothing to do with me, what happened in the first game.
“As long as everything plays out on a spectator-level, there are no dramas off the pitch, then there is a real feelgood factor about football in the nation at present.
“Ourselves and Swansea are in similar positions, decent form and it sets itself up for a decent game.”
