Swansea City won a pulsating South Wales derby today.
It’s already been described as a classic, with Cardiff fighting back from 2-0 down before losing out to a second Darren Pratley strike.
Both sides were missing key personnel through injury and suspension but that doesn’t bother the fans when the pride of South Wales is up for grabs.
Swansea opened brighly, enjoying their new pitch and playing the stylish football that they’ve made their trademark under first Roberto Martinez and now Portugal legend Paulo Souza.
Cardiff are the division’s top scorers, while Swansea are the defensive misers, but on ten minutes Swans took the lead through Nathan Dyer – not for the last time the Cardiff defence were found lacking.
It was only six minutes later that Swans fans found themselves in dreamland as Pratley finished off after a Joe Allen run and cross.
Swansea seemed to be cruising while Cardiff were struggling to get into the game, but in the 32nd minute Boothroyd put in a one-on-one and two minutes later the Bluebirds were back on terms with a first ever Cardiff goal from skipper Mark Hudson.
The second half was unlikely to live up to the four goal thriller that was the first, but Cardiff came close to taking the lead in spectacular style on 59 minutes when McCormack’s 25-yard free kick beat everyone but not the cross bar. Two minutes later the visitors payed the price as Pratley volleyed in his second to send the Liberty Stadium back into orbit.
