Swansea vs Cardiff prediction: ENGLAND: Championship betting tips on match 2024-03-15 12:30.
[p]It’s derby day in South Wales, as Swansea host bitter rivals Cardiff in a game that both sides need to win, but for very different reasons. The Swans find themselves five points above the drop zone, though that’s a situation which would have looked a whole lot worse had they not picked up seven points from their last four league games (W2, D1, L1).[/p]
[p]Still by no means sitting comfortably, Swansea will hope their recent success in this fixture (W7, D1, L2) can help them steer further clear of the congested relegation battle. One of those defeats did come in this season’s reverse though, leaving the Swans at risk of falling to a first-ever league double of H2H losses – an ignominy that would dictate the colour of South Wales until next season. [/p]
[p]As far as dramatic victories go, Cardiff’s win against Ipswich last weekend is sure to go down as one for the ages, as the Bluebirds scored twice in stoppage time to snatch a 2-1 win. That secured Erol Bulut’s side a fourth win in succession as they appear to be hitting form at just the right time in their play-off quest, although starting the round five points adrift of sixth spot, they still have plenty of work to do to bridge the gap. [/p]
[p]Bulut is acutely aware of that himself, and despite labelling that Ipswich performance their best of the season, he also claimed it was not good enough, perhaps owing to the fact his side were fortunate to again fall on the right side of tight margins. They’ve made quite the habit of doing that lately, with their four wins in succession all coming by a slender one-goal margin, while their last nine Championship victories have all come in the same fashion. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Jamie Paterson scored the winner in Swansea’s last home league game while he’s been involved in four goals (G1, A3) across his last two starts against Cardiff. A former teammate of his at Bristol City, Cardiff’s Callum O’Dowda scored his first goal after a six month injury lay-off by netting the winner in the 100th minute against Ipswich.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Of the 27 away league goals Cardiff have conceded this season, 18 arrived after half-time. [/p]