Sub-par Swans outfought in capital
That really hurt. After some careful pub selection, I settled in to watch what I hoped would be a triumph of all things white and tika-taka, but instead had to watch as were undone by a goal from a set-piece in a game of few real chances.
The first ten minutes were good. Let's talk about that eh? Shelvey pinged a lovely pass in to Michu whose first touch with his right set up what could have been a spectacular volley with his second, however he leant back and his effort went high and wide. That was Swansea's best effort until late in the game, and in the meantime we had lots of time to contemplate a) how well Cardiff were shutting us down and b) how our "Plan A" doesn't seem to be bringing the level of performance we should be allowed to expect given the players at Laudrup's disposal. Ashley Williams clearly agrees:
"I'm bitterly disappointed... the way we played wasn't good enough to win the game. We know how much it means to the city and we're gutted we couldn't get the win for them and perform better. The only thing I can apologise for is the team performance - we didn't show enough in the derby to win the game.
"I'm concerned. I don't think we've hit the level where we were last season and it's something we've got to work towards. I've been out for a few weeks and I've had the chance to see it from the outside and... I don't think we've really got to where we need to be."I remember a period last season - September or October maybe - where we weren't playing too well and then we turned it around with some big wins. We've been here before and we need to just work through it."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24799143?
As mentioned though, Cardiff made it very hard for the Swans to play any kind of football. In the first half, for large chunks of time the hosts had eleven men behind the ball but apart from some derby-style tackles from Jonjo Shelvey, there was little else of note. I thought Shelvey was massively lucky to not pick up a yellow for one of a few first-half challenges, and the guy who was generally on the receiving end of them - Gary Medel - responded by putting on a complete masterclass. He was everywhere, breaking up play and spraying the ball around with a surprisingly varied range of passing. It was the first time I'd seen him and, fair play to him, he looked a quality player.
Pre-match I'd had a premonition that Caulker would make a mistake leading to a goal, but boy did I get that wrong! Instead, in the 62nd minute a mistake by Neil Taylor (and some persistence from Cardiff right-back Theophile-Catherine) gifted Cardiff a corner, which saw the ex-Swans loanee rise above Chico and plant a header into the corner of the net. Jonjo Shelvey was supposed to be on the post, but between his and Chico's efforts neither showed enough desire or concentration to claim the goal was anything other than deserved. Chico in particular didn't put up anywhere near enough of a fight against his man - Ok, Caulker is a bit of a man-beast but still, it was too easy.
I guess I should mention Vorm's red card. For me, it was a definite red. Sprinting out, he got there second and the ball had already gone past him so any contact there and you're a goner. At least we have Gerhard "Steady Hands" Tremmel to step in, so there should be no concerns about the level of his replacement. Given the Swans had used all their subs, Angel Rangel spent the last few minutes in goal - even managing to tip a Peter Whittingham free-kick over the bar. Super keeper! Is there anything Rangel can't do?
Bony had been benched and Laudrup's comments post-match indicate he's still not regarded as fully-fit. We're ten games into the season and, for me, I find that quite disconcerting. Surely he must be there or thereabouts? His physicality could have been just what was needed against a combative Cardiff side but Michu was preferred to him with Shelvey, JDG & Leon behind him. With Michu picking up an injury, it looks like we may finally get to see Bony given a chance with a more orthodox attacking midfielder behind him, and I've got a sneaking suspicion it will result in the Ivorian smashing a load of goals in. Fingers crossed, because we need to start playing like a team again, as opposed to knocking it around and hoping for a bit of individual brilliance from one of your team-mates.
So. Swansea were the first Welsh team in the Premier League but Cardiff were the victors in the first ever all-Wales top-flight fixture. Let's hope that, come May, it doesn't matter.