Cardiff City PROFILE

The striker Cardiff City nicked from under Swansea City’s noses could miss the South Wales derby this weekend. The Bluebirds are sweating on the fitness of Harry Wilson ahead of their big clash with the Swans at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday. Wilson picked up an arm injury in the midweek win at Stoke and has been unable to train since. Now City boss Neil Harris is preparing to give him “until the last knockings” to recover to face the fourth placed Swans.

Steve Cooper will tell his Swansea City players to deliver a performance to warm the missing thousands tomorrow when they face the strangest derby at an empty Cardiff City Stadium. The Swans head coach says he has stressed to his players all week their responsibility to supporters who have not seen their team live – home or away – for almost nine months. Never before in the 108-year history of the most fierce South Wales rivalry has this fixture been played in a fan-free setting, but Cooper has attempted to use that as extra motivation.

Newport County’s return to the Nathaniel MG Welsh League Cup has been put on hold after one of their academy players was caught up in a positive Covid test. It means their first round home clash with Undy Athletic has been put back until before Christmas. Another Covid casualty is the game between Holywell Town and Llanidloes Town in the northern section. The Cup games are spread over the weekend and Cardiff City’s return to the tournament tonight will see them take on Taffs Well at the USW Sports Ground.

As with his talent and stardom, Andre Ayew wears his wealth lightly which is why he has few hang-ups over discussing being the best-paid player in the Championship. The Swansea City striker – who hopes to finally score against rivals Cardiff City on Saturday – is regularly described as the biggest earner in the division. The label is most often used not by the media, but by opposition managers who offer it up by way of explanation as to why their team were unable to stop Ayew from dominating the match just ended.

Mark Harris and Ben Cabango were team mates for the Wales U21 team, but today their friendship will be put on hold in the south Wales derby. For Swansea-born Harris it will be his first taste of the biggest game in Welsh football, while Cardiff-born Cabango will be getting his second outing. The odd thing is that they won’t be playing for the city of their birth, but for their biggest rivals.

Steve Cooper was as good as his word – dedicating a Swansea City derby day victory to absent supporters he had promised to make the central actors even though they are far from the stage. The Swans head coach insisted all his players and staff stay on the field for their post-match celebrations and rallying cries following their 2-0 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium. There may be some who felt Cooper was simply rubbing salt into local wounds, but the man himself was unequivocal before the game that fans were at the forefront of his thinking after nine months away from live action.

This weekend’s South Wales derby was like no other. To misquote Max Boyce, like tens of thousands of other fans, Jack Hammett will be able to look back in years to come and say, “I wasn’t there.” Let’s hope it was a one-off. The weeks building up to the derbies last season seem like a long time ago now. Trying to organise tickets with friends, booking time off work way in advance and for some, planning the long journey past the final destination, hopping on the coach to turn back on yourself.

Jamal Lowe believes hard graft will bring the goals that can fire Swansea City towards promotion. The Swans striker had only scored twice in 18 matches before he doubled that tally in the derby against Cardiff City at the weekend, where the Swans won 2-0. Now, he aims to prove that hard work brings reward as the Swans bid to go one better than last season’s play-off campaign and target a top two finish and automatic promotion.

Kieffer Moore has dealt Cardiff City a major blow after being ruled out until the New Year with a torn hamstring. The striker – who has netted eight goals for the Bluebirds since his summer move from Wigan – suffered the injury in the derby defeat to Swansea City after attempting to score with a back-heel.

Neil Harris believes Cardiff City’s dramatic comeback win over Birmingham City can be a turning point in their push for promotion. The Bluebirds trailed 2-1 on Wednesday night, but rallied with goals from Harry Wilson and Sean Morrison to seal a 3-2 victory. It means having appeared likely to suffer back-to-back home defeats following the derby loss to Swansea City, Harris’ team are now just three points outside the play-off places.

Taking the knee as an act of solidarity against racism continues to have the overwhelming support of professional footballers, according to the players’ union. Swansea City, Cardiff City and Newport County players have continued to take the knee at home and away matches this season. But the gesture was booed by Millwall supporters before their home Championship game against Derby on December 5, and in the Lions’ next match against QPR a decision was taken for the players to stand arm in arm instead.

Neil Harris has urged Cardiff City to show their top-six credentials as they face two of their promotion rivals. The Bluebirds head to Championship pacesetters Norwich City on Saturday before a home game against Brentford on Boxing Day.