CLASSIC MATCHES - Cardiff 2-2 Swans

With the Welsh derby fast approaching, the build-up begins to the first all-Welsh Barclays Premier League encounter.

Each day this week - right the way up until Sunday's hotly anticipated fixture - we will bring you a classic derby encounter from over the years.

McCormack rescues Cardiff with late equaliser

Ross McCormack rescued Cardiff City from the penalty spot in a thrilling south Wales derby with Swansea City.

Joe Allen seemed to have given the Swans the victory two minutes from time with a snap-shot, but moments later McCormack went down in the box to earn the home side a draw.

The Swans started the better and had an early penalty shout of their own when Paul Parry tripped Jordi Gomez, but the referee turned away the protests.

The early promise was turned into the opening goal on 11 minutes as Scotland and Dyer combined beautifully to put Swansea ahead.

Dyer raced in from the right, played a lovely interchange with Scotland before firing under the goalkeeper.

The set-back brought a fierce response from Cardiff, who came roaring back into the game.

Mark Kennedy played a tidy one-two on the left to send Chopra into the Swans cross, but Ashley Williams was on hand to cut out the striker's low cross.

The Swans instantly replied to the fight-back when Gomez sent a left-foot volley dipping just over the Cardiff bar.

The post then came to Swansea's rescue as Chopra swivelled and shot across keeper Dorus De Vries, who then had to plunge to his right as Bothroyd crashed the rebound goal-ward.

However, the action was soured by an incident just before half-time that saw referee Mike Dean cut on the forehead by an object thrown from the Bob Bank stand, occupied by home fans.

Dyer almost doubled Swansea's lead after the restart, as Taylor could only parry a Gomez shot into the attacker's path.

But Kevin McNaughton did superbly to get back and scoop Dyer's shot off the line.

The full-back's next involvement was equally crucial as he played in Parry, who lofted a cross into the back post.

Bothroyd managed to square Parry's cross for Chopra to side-foot home from five yards.

But with just two minutes of the game remaining, substitute Joe Allen seemed to have earned his side a famous win when he picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and lashed it past Taylor.

However, in a frantic finale Cardiff played a hopeful ball high into the Swansea area and McCormack went tumbling under a challenge from Williams.

The strength of the challenge was questionable, but referee Dean pointed to the spot, and McCormack picked himself up to send the home fans into rapture.

CARDIFF CITY:Taylor, McNaughton, Purse, Roger Johnson, Kennedy (Eddie Johnson 89), Parry (Whittingham 66), Ledley, McPhail, McCormack, Bothroyd, Chopra (Rae 81).

UNUSED SUBS:Heaton, Comminges.

SWANSEA CITY:De Vries, Rangel (Serran 78), Williams, Monk, Tate, Britton, Pratley, Gower (Allen 66), Gomez, Dyer (Pintado 86), Scotland.

UNUSED SUBS:Bessone, Butler.