A first-half volley from Liam Cullen from Ronald’s sumptuous cross and Jamal Lowe’s stoppage time second proving the difference on the day.
In what was the strongest showing of the Luke Williams era, it could have been a much more flattering scoreline with Harry Darling hitting the woodwork, Cullen missing a second-half penalty and the Wales forward also unable to convert the excellent Ronald’s cross when well placed.
Whilst the Brazilian would once again take the plaudits terrorising the Bluebirds defense throughout the 90 minutes, it would be a fantastic team effort full of energy and tenacity that would see the Swans earn the victory in front of the Jack Army for the third season in a row.
The hosts came into the game looking to bounce back from Sunday’s disappointing 1-0 loss to Bristol City at Ashton Gate, a performance where Williams admitted his side lacked a cutting edge at either end of the pitch.
Looking for a response against an inform Cardiff side, the Swans boss would be without defender Ben Cabango, twice a derby day hero in recent years, a late withdrawal from the squad.
Harry Darling would come back into the eleven to replace the Wales international as Williams would keep faith with a side that has been the mainstay to an upturn of form of seven points from the last four matches.
Play-off chasing Cardiff’s dramatic 2-1 stoppage-time victory over Ipswich last weekend narrowed the gap between the Bluebirds and the top-six to just five points.
Irish winger Callum O’Dowda finishing Perry Ng’s cross an incredible ten minutes into time added, completing a dramatic turnaround.
Targeting a first league double over the Swans in the club’s history, manager Erol Bulut named an unchanged line-up with Wales captain Aaron Ramsey returning to the bench having been out for a month with a calf injury.
Having won seven of the last ten of the fixture, the Swans would start the stronger to a rousing atmosphere in the Swansea.com Stadium, forcing the early tempo.
Matt Grimes would come the closest in the early stages hammering a deflected half-volley just wide of the post before Darling would head the resulting corner on target, but straight into visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath’s grateful hands.
The Swans would continue to pressurise in the visitor’s final third and would come close once more. After Joe Allen would be fouled on the edge of the penalty area Cullen would fire a low drive wide of the left-hand post, following Jamie Paterson’s free-kick that had cannoned back of the Cardiff wall.
As the early onslaught continued only the woodwork would stop the home side from opening the scoring. Darling would rise highest to plant a header against the crossbar from Grimes’ delightful right-wing cross.
The Swans though would not be denied just after the half-hour mark just as Cardiff were starting to threaten. Winger Ronald would pick the ball up on the right-hand side on the counter attack before driving down the wing. The Brazilian would lay off to Kyle Naughton who would whip in a deep cross to pick out Cullen unmarked on the back-post to half-volley past Horvath low into the bottom corner of the net for his sixth league goal of the season.
Ronald himself would fire over as the Swans looked to take full command of the game before the break but it would be just the one goal in a pulsating contest at half-time.
The home side would carry on where they left off minutes into the second-half and would have a golden opportunity to double their advantage. Ronald pulled back by Perry Ng in the penalty giving referee David Webb no option but to award a spot-kick.
Cullen looking for his second of the afternoon would send Horvath the wrong way but would pull his shot wide of the post.
Cardiff would rally and would start to etch their way back into the game. The Bluebirds would have a golden opportunity to level the scorelines on the hour mark. Substitute Rubin Colwill firing Josh Bowler’s cut-back wildly over the crossbar from ten-yards.
It would be the Swans though who would find the game’s next big moment. Ronald finding room this time on the left-hand side before swinging a teasing ball between the two Cardiff centre halves picking out Cullen. The Wales striker sprinting in late would launch a diving header, but it would go just wide of the post.
Cardiff would push late on for an equaliser, but it would be the Swans who would seal the victory deep into stoppage-time to gain their third victory on the trot against their neighbours on home soil. Lowe beating the offside trap to latch onto a through ball before cutting inside a despairing challenge to slot past Horvath.
Swansea City X1
Carl Rushworth, Josh Tymon, Kyle Naughton (Josh Key 59), Harry Darling, Nathan Wood, Joe Allen (Jay Fulton 70), Matt Grimes (captain), Jamie Paterson (Ollie Cooper 70), Ronald, Przemyslaw Placheta (Charlie Patino 90), Liam Cullen (Jamal Lowe 70).
Cardiff City X1
Ethan Horvath, Perry Ng, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Nathaniel Phillips, Dimitrios Goutas, Ryan Wintle (captain), Manolis Siopis (Aaron Ramsey 70), Josh Bowler (Ollie Tanner 63), David Turnbull (Rubin Colwill 45), Karlan Grant (Famara Diedhiou 77), Yakou Meite (Callum O’Dowda 45).
[Lead image: Swansea City FC]
