On the day after our win over Ipswich, Swansea City took their record in derby fixtures this season to played three, lost three with a limp 1-0 loss to Bristol City at Ashton Gate thanks to a goal scored from a set piece.
With City having a 100 per cent winning record from their three derbies this season, there is definitely a feeling among their fans that the elusive Cardiff league double in the south Wales derby could finally be happening and 1-0 thanks to a goal from a free kick or corner seems as likely an outcome as any if it is to happen.
I’m more cautious though and with Swansea the same five points above the bottom three that we are below the top six, it has to be accepted that, if you think the Play Offs are still on with City, you have to believe that the jacks can still get relegated.
I believe that both events (Play Offs for us and a bottom three finish for the jacks) fall into the very unlikely category, but Swansea have as much of a need for more league points as we do and there’s also the feeling that they owe their fans one after their feeble showing at Cardiff City Stadium in September which was reminiscent of too many of our derby displays in recent years. For those reasons, I think we’re going to have to wait another season at least for a league double over Swansea, although I feel a draw, which wouldn’t be a bad outcome, could well be on.
One other thing, there was a meeting between the sides at Swansea on Monday when their under 21s (who are unbeaten at home this season) took on a City side containing senior players like Callum Robinson and Romaine Sawyers. City were twice behind, but came back to earn a 2-2 draw thanks to a neat finish by Cian Ashford and a crisply hit half volley by Sawyers in injury time.
Here’s the usual seven questions about our next opponents with the answers to be posted on here on Sunday.
60s. With a name that is associated more with another sport, this one club man had a decent record in encounters with City with one, disastrous, exception. He started off as an understudy to someone who I’d say justifies the term Swansea legend and the majority of his hundred and fifty plus league appearances came after the man who had been keeping him out of the team was sold. His one full cap for Wales ended in defeat – who is he?
70s. This forward made his debut for his home town club in a losing cause in a cup tie with Manchester City before being loaned to the first of the two Welsh clubs he played for. On his return, he became a regular for his first club for a relatively short time after he’d patched up an argument which had seen him vow not to play for the club again. He had a prolific goalscoring spell which made him a regular starter rather than the squad member he was for the majority of his seven years at the club. but couldn’t maintain that form and eventually moved to the north east to wear the same colour shirt. He was a fairly regular pick during his two seasons at his new team, but his goalscoring virtually dried up. Goals came at a better rate after a move south to a place with an airport named after it and he soon moved on to Swansea only to break a leg before he’d played twenty matches for them, an injury which played a part in him retiring at the age of twenty nine – who am I describing?
80s. Deer in Park Lane? Surely not – but a forward in Swansea perhaps? (5.7)
90s. Understood priceless rock maybe.
00s. The first name of this alliterative Swansea player from this decade sounded like the beginning of a question and his surname ended with a female bird – can you name him?
10s. He made his league debut for Swansea in a win at the Emirates Stadium during this decade and last weekend was in a team which reached the Semi Finals of a Cup competition, who is he?
20s. Famous uncle meets character from ancient puppet show!
Answers.
60s. George Johnson was Mel Nurse’s deputy until the latter was sold to Middlesbrough in 1962 and for the next three years or so, he was Swansea’s first choice centre half. He had two wins and a draw in four league encounters with City, but was in the Swansea team beaten 5-0 by us at Ninian Park in April 1965. His one cap for Wales came in a 3-2 defeat by Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in 1964.
70s. Phil Boersma was loaned by Liverpool to Wrexham and went on to become a valued squad member at Anfield despite him vowing never to play for them again after Chris Lawler was named as substitute for the 1974 FA Cup Final against Newcastle rather than him. He made a great start to the following season, but couldn’t maintain his form and was eventually sold to Middlesbrough and then Luton. John Toshack signed him for Swansea in 1978, but a broken leg sustained in a game at Swindon meant his time as a player at the Vetch was limited to a few months.
80s. Derek Parlane.
90s. Roger Freestone.
00s. Izzy Iriekpen.
10s. Scottish full back Stephen Kingsley was in a Swansea side that won at Arsenal in the Premier League in his first league appearance for the club and last weekend was in the Hearts side that won at Morton to reach the Semi Final of the Scottish Cup.
20s. Sam Parker.
