Preview: Swansea City vs. Cardiff City - prediction, team news, lineups

Swansea City and Cardiff City meet in the Welsh derby on Sunday afternoon with both clubs sitting near the bottom of the Championship standings.

Just 11 points have been collected from as many games, Cardiff remaining on that total courtesy of five successive defeats.

Match preview

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While there was always a chance that Russell Martin would struggle to fill the shoes of Steve Cooper, the newly-appointed head coach will be disappointed with his start at the Liberty Stadium.

On one hand, one defeat in six matches is respectable enough in the Championship, but four draws during the same period have kept the Swans in trouble at the wrong end of the table.

To their credit, four clean sheets have also been posted, the six goals that they have conceded all coming in the first half of games at Luton Town and Fulham respectively.

Nevertheless, over half of their nine league strikes this season have come from Joel Piroe, something which must change if they want to make progress over the coming weeks.

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At a time when Swansea can claim to be on a marginally upward trajectory, the same cannot be said of their rivals who have lost all momentum under Mick McCarthy.

The Bluebirds have conceded 12 goals during five defeats, their solitary effort during that period coming when already 4-0 down to Blackburn Rovers.

McCarthy was given a contract until the end of next season, but the Bluebirds hierarchy may feel that they have to part ways with the veteran if they do not put together an improved run of form.

Such is their goal difference that Cardiff are only a couple of defeats away from falling into 23rd position, a drop which was unforeseen when they initially made an impact under McCarthy's guidance.

A win on Sunday will catapult Cardiff, or Swansea, back up to mid-table, but you cannot make a case for either team pushing relentlessly for maximum points in such a high-profile fixture.

Team News

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Martin has revealed that he has a fully-fit Swansea squad available ahead of this game.

While he could potentially stick with the 11 players which started against Derby County, Ethan Laird and Morgan Whittaker are alternatives for Joel Latibeaudiere and Korey Smith respectively.

McCarthy says that Cardiff forward Kieffer Moore should be passed fit despite suffering a minor eye injury while on international duty with Wales.

A number of alterations are likely elsewhere, however, with Perry Ng, Sean Morrison and Joel Bagan all in line to return to the defence.

Rubin Colwill will also hope to feature after only being named as a substitute against Reading.

Swansea City possible starting lineup:
Hamer; Cabango, Naughton, Manning; Latibeaudiere, Downes, Grimes, Bidwell; Smith, Paterson; Piroe

Cardiff City possible starting lineup:
Smithies; Ng, Flint, Morrison, Brown; Pack, Ralls; Giles, Colwill, Bacuna; Moore

We say: Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City

Regardless of their respective form, we cannot ignore that just five wins have been collected between these two sides this season. With that in mind, do not be surprised to be a low-scoring draw play out at the Liberty Stadium.