Premier League
Swansea
Feb 8, 2014 5.30pm
3
0
HT : 0 0
FT
Cardiff
  • Wayne Routledge 47' goal
  • Pablo Hernandez 78' yellowcard
  • Nathan Dyer 79' goal
  • Wilfried Bony 85' goal
  • yellowcard Jordon Mutch 86'

Live Commentary: Swansea City 3-0 Cardiff City - as it happened

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Swansea 3-0 Cardiff - as it happened
© Getty Images

Swansea City faced South Wales rivals Cardiff City on Saturday evening in their first game since the departure of manager Michael Laudrup.

It was billed as one of the most important derbies ever between the two sides and couldn't have gone much better for temporary Swans manager Garry Monk as his side ran out 3-0 winners.

Read how it all unfolded at the Liberty Stadium in our minute-by-minute updates below.

7.28pmThanks for joining SM this evening. Stick around on site for plenty of reaction and analysis from the Liberty Stadium.

7.27pmBefore we leave you, there's just time to check in with the latest Premier League table. Swansea look much healthier up in 10th but they're still just four points clear of the drop zone because of how tight the bottom half is. Cardiff remain 19th, three points shy of safety.

7.25pmMonk knows that he's only in temporary charge for now but if he can keep pulling off results like this then the job will be his permanently.

7.23pmA perfect start to life as Swansea manager for Monk as his Swansea side score three goals after half time to seal victory over their rivals Cardiff.

90+4 minFULL-TIME: SWANSEA 3-0 CARDIFF

90+1 minThree more minutes are signalled by the fourth official. What a result for Monk in his first game in charge.

89 minThe Swansea fans are loving it and rubbing it in the Cardiff supporters' faces: "GOING DOWN, GOING DOWN, GOING DOWN!" they chant.

88 minSWANSEA SUB: Dyer gets a huge round of applause as he takes a place on the bench, with Neil Taylor on in his place.

86 minBOOKING! Unnecessary rash challenge from Mutch on Britton.

85 minNope, definitely no late comeback from the visitors! Swansea wrap up the points as Bony powers a header into the top corner from Hernandez's free kick.

85 minGOAL! SWANSEA 3-0 CARDIFF (BONY)

82 minInto the final 10 minutes or so and surely this game is all done? Although, my team Ipswich scored two in the last few minutes to snatch a point against Barnsley today.

79 minThe second goal was always going to be so important and it's Swansea who double their lead. The smallest man on the pitch is at the back post to head it into the corner from Routledge's cross. Terrible marking from John, who allowed Dyer to get in front of him and nod home.

79 minGOAL! SWANSEA 2-0 CARDIFF (DYER)

78 minBOOKING! The first card comes out and it's for Hernandez.

77 minCARDIFF SUB: Last change for the visitors as Jordan Mutch comes on for Zaha.

75 minSHOT! First shot for a while as Dyer is again given time to shoot and he fizzes a fierce shot just over the top.

71 miinFabio's positioning can certainly be questioned for the goal and perhaps Solskjaer feels that McNaughton's experience will be more valuable in the closing stages.

69 minSUBS! Both managers make their second change, with Jose Canas on for De Guzman for Swansea and Kevin McNaughton replacing Fabio for Cardiff.

66 minNeat work from Britton as he pops the ball up with his knee for a dipping volley that's well struck but straight at Marshall.

63 minAmazingly, three points today actually takes Swansea into the top half of the table. Just look at how close the bottom half is!

61 min

59 minZaha runs at his man and gets to the byline before cutting it back. No Cardiff player has made a near-post run and it's dealt with easily by Swansea.

57 minNo-one closes Dyer down so he takes a 20-yard shot on, pushing it a yard or so wide.

56 minCARDIFF SUB: Solskjaer makes his first change and it's a striking one, bringing off Jones for Fraizer Campbell.

55 minRangel hauls down Zaha on the wing to give Cardiff a free kick. Bellamy swings it in but Turner can't reach it at the back post.

53 min

51 minOFF THE BAR! Bellamy picks up the ball after Zaha went down and travels along the 18-yard line before lashing a right-footed drive against the woodwork. Vorm was beaten but luckily the crossbar wasn't.

48 minGreat stuff on the sideline as Swans skipper Ashley Williams went straight to former teammate and now manager Monk to celebrate.

47 minInstant impact from Hernandez as he uses the outside of his boot to thread it through wonderfully for Routledge. He bears down on goal from the left and finishes coolly into the corner.

47 minGOAL! SWANSEA 1-0 CARDIFF (ROUTLEDGE)

46 minKICKOFF! The home side get us back underway. Surely we're in for a better second half?!

6.32pmSWANSEA SUB: It's Emnes who is taken off for the Spaniard. Bit harsh on the Dutchman or it could be injury related.

6.30pmI'd say that Cardiff's bench looks stronger but it's Swansea who are making a change at the break. Pablo Hernandez is stripped down on the touchline.

6.27pmWhat will Ole Gunnar be saying to his players in the dressing room? They're really in this game and have looked quite dangerous on the break.

© Getty Images

6.23pmThe hosts have had 61% possession and more shots, with eight but only two on target. Cardiff have got off five attempts but only one on target, which was Whittingham's speculative swerving volley.

6.19pmBarring an exciting opening, it's been a nervy affair like I thought. Swansea look assured enough in possession but just not very confident in the final third.

45+2 minHALF-TIME: SWANSEA 0-0 CARDIFF

45+1 minCHANCE! Just after one minute of time is added on, Routledge has another opportunity as a loose ball drops his way. Like in the first minute, he drills it straight at Marshall.

44 minAwful sliced effort from Zaha after he had sidestepped his marker.

40 minPHOTO! Here's an action shot of that Jones header from a little earlier:

© Getty Images

37 minDyer is angry with his teammates as none of them were in the six-yard box to tap home his fizzing low cross.

36 minSHOT! Whooosh! Great effort from Whittingham as he cuts across a 30-yard volley, swerving it to the near post where Vorm is alert to hold on.

33 minAfter that lightning first five minutes, it's calmed down a lot. Routledge's shot inside 45 seconds remains the best chance of the game so far.

32 minTop work from Swansea as they snuffle out a Cardiff break and eventually force the ball all the way back to Marshall.

28 minEmnes floats over a lovely cross from the left but Bony's the only man in the middle and it's over his head.

27 minIt's hardly surprising to see Swansea seeing a lot of the ball. If you're Cardiff that means you have to be effective on the counter and so far they have been. Bellamy looks in a mean mood and the pace of Zaha is always a threat.

25 min

24 minCHANCE! Lovely stuff from Cardiff. Bellamy plays a neat one-two with John and then drives into the box. The angle is tight and he could shoot, but instead looks to square for Jones, who is outmuscled by Williams in the middle and can only prod wide.

22 minConfusion from Cardiff as Whittingham pokes the ball back into the area where Bellamy looks a mile offside. He's not flagged though but instead of taking it on he tries to leave it for Whittingham, who slips at the vital moment. Swansea survive.

19 minZaha uses his electric pace to streak clear of the Swansea defence. He knocks the ball way ahead of him down the left but can't beat Britton to the ball. Good covering from the Swansea miniature midfielder.

17 minOVER! Heavy spell of pressure from Swansea ends with De Guzman curling miles over. In the build-up, Kim was very lucky to not get booked for a lunge on Emnes.

14 minCardiff have their first opening as Bellamy curls over a cross from the right that Jones can only glance a good yard wide.

11 minEven now in the post-Laudrup era, it looks like Monk wants his Swansea to play the passing way that previous managers Martinez, Rodgers and Laudrup loved.

9 minEmnes, who has oddly chosen the number 57 shirt, has looked bright early on for the home side.

6 minAs the rain teems down, Bony makes a dreadful decision by shooting from 35 yards instead of passing.

3 minBig early call for Marriner to make as De Guzman slips in Bony, who looks to round Marshall and tumbles. Marriner says no penalty and that's the right call for me as he clearly took the ball. He may have upset Bony's run first so there are are arguments that it could have been awarded.

1 minCHANCE! I said it would be nervy but that doesn't look like the case as Swansea come close inside 45 seconds. New signing Emnes streaked down the field and played in Routledge, whose low shot was too close to Marshall. Easy save at his feet.

0 minKICKOFF! Marriner blows his whistle for the first time and we're off at the Liberty.

5.28pmFans of both clubs would have watched Wales get spanked by Ireland in the Six Nations so will want a result to perk them up!

5.26pmPREDICTION TIME! With just moments until kickoff, it's time for my pre-match thoughts. Swansea should just edge it as they're at home and have a new manager in charge. Despite the atmosphere, I'm expecting a nervy affair and little goals. 2-0 to the hosts.

5.24pm

5.18pmIt's certainly bubbling up nicely in Swansea. A Saturday evening game means that there's been plenty of time to prepare for this today. Let's just hope that there haven't been too many pints drunk and there won't be any crowd trouble.

5.16pmREFEREE WATCH! The man in charge of what is sure to be a feisty game is Andre Marriner.

5.12pmIf Cardiff needed any more incentive to get the win today, which they won't, they should know that if they claim three points they will break the duck of there never being a team to do the double over the other.

5.10pmOle Gunnar Solskjaer gives three of his January signings a start as Fabio, Wilfried Zaha and Kenwyne Jones get the nod.

5.07pmThe first man out of the tunnel on that Vine, Steven Caulker, was the match-winner in the reverse fixture between these two sides back in November. He rose highest to head home for the only goal of the game at the Cardiff City Stadium.

5.03pm

5.01pmRight, back to the feature evening game here. Swansea temporary manager Garry Monk gives Marvin Emnes his full debut for the home side since his January move from Middlesbrough. He'll play just behind main striker Wilfried Bony.

4.58pmIn terms of these two sides, Swansea have plunged down the table and are now 16th. Cardiff are a little worse in 19th but a win for the visitors today would see them go level on points with their Welsh rivals.

4.56pmClick here to see all of today's results from up and down the country and across Europe. Chelsea are now top of the Premier League after Arsenal were battered by Liverpool and Manchester City were held at Norwich City.

4.53pmBefore we take a closer look at those lineups, let's just round up what's going on in the bulk of games at 3pm, which are coming to an end now.

4.51pm

4.50pmCARDIFF SUBS: Lewis, Campbell, Noone, Mutch, McNaughton, Daehli, Cala

4.49pmCARDIFF XI: Marshall; John, Caulker, Turner, Fabio; Whittingham, Medel; Kim, Zaha, Bellamy; Jones

4.49pmSWANSEA SUBS: Tremmel, Amat, Taylor, Canas, Hernandez, Lamah, N'Gog

4.48pmSWANSEA XI: Vorm; Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies; Britton, de Guzman; Emnes, Dyer, Routledge; Bony

4.46pmEvening folks! What a day of football it's been so far and it's ending with a bang as the two Welsh Premier League sides meet at the Liberty Stadium. No time to waste, let's get to the teams...
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