This match can’t be worse than the 1.30pm KO

 

Cardiff v Swansea
Premier League
4pm LIVE ON SKY

FEISTY MATCH LIKELY

If you plan to watch the highlights of the early kick off between Everton and Tottenham – don’t bother – there weren’t any. It was highlight singular, a penalty appeal that was about the only thing worth even 15 seconds of air time to debate in a drab affair that makes Arsenal’s position at the top of the table look stronger.

It should be a whole different ball game at the Cardiff City Stadium for the South Wales derby between the hosts and Swansea in the first top-flight meeting between the two sides.

Swansea are five places, but only two points higher in the Premier League and when these sides last played in the Championship close games were the order of the day:

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Feb 2011 Championship Swansea 0-1 Cardiff
Nov 2010 Championship Cardiff 0-1 Swansea
Apr 2010 Championship Cardiff 2-1 Swansea
Nov 2009 Championship Swansea 3-2 Cardiff
Apr 2009 Championship Cardiff 2-2 Swansea
Nov 2008 Championship Swansea 2-2 Cardiff
Sep 2008 C Cup Swansea 1-0 Cardiff
Apr 1999 Div 3 Cardiff 0-0 Swansea
Nov 1998 Div 3 Swansea 2-1 Cardiff
Mar 1998 Div 3 Swansea 1-1 Cardiff

TEAM NEWS:

Cardiff: Marshall, Theophile-Catherine, Caulker, Turner, Taylor, Cowie, Medel, Mutch, Whittingham, Bellamy, Odemwingie. Subs: Hudson, Noone, Gunnarsson, Maynard, Lewis, Campbell, Kim.

Swansea: Vorm, Rangel, Chico, Williams, Taylor, Shelvey, Britton, Dyer, de Guzman, Routledge, Michu. Subs: Amat, Bony, Tiendalli, Canas, Pozuelo, Tremmel, Vazquez.

Swansea have kept five clean sheets in their last nine matches and won won three of their last four away games.

Cardiff have not won a home fixture since their famous 3-2 win over Manchester City in their first home game.

Over 2.5 goals with Star Sports around evens looks the shout.

STAR FORECAST
(stake between 0.5 and 10 points)
10 points win OVER 2.5 GOALS at around EVENS