Meet the opposition | Cardiff City
As Swansea City and Cardiff City prepare to lock horns in the South Wales derby, we take a closer look at the Bluebirds.
What’s their story?
Cardiff find themselves back in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season.
That was their second Premier League campaign, having also suffered the drop on their previous top-flight stay during the 2013-14 season.
In total, the Bluebirds have spent 15 of the last 17 seasons in the second tier, while reaching the FA Cup final in 2008 and the League Cup final in 2012.
Earlier in their history they had top-flight spells in the 1920s, 1950s and 1960s, enjoying notable success during the first of those periods.
Cardiff finished second in the First Division table in 1924 – as Huddersfield took the title - and won the FA Cup in 1927.
How’s their form?
Mixed. The Bluebirds endured a difficult start to the campaign, including defeats to Reading and Wigan, but went on to put together a seven-match unbeaten run to gradually climb the table.
Defeat to West Brom at The Hawthorns ended that sequence but they are still seeking the sort of consistency that helped them secure automatic promotion in 2018.
Resumed action after the international break by coming from behind to earn a point at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
Who’s the boss?
Neil Warnock. Something of a promotion specialist, Warnock has his sights on a ninth promotion of a near 40 years in management.
Indeed, some Swans fans will recall that as long ago as 1994 they were locking horns with Warnock’s Huddersfield Town side at Wembley as Frank Burrows’ men won the Football League Trophy.
The 70-year-old has indicated he will bring down the curtain on his career at the conclusion of the campaign, but there is no sign of the fire dimming for the passionate Yorkshireman who led Cardiff to the top-flight having taken over with the club struggling in the second tier.
The former winger started in management with Gainsborough Trinity in 1980, and has since managed Burton, Scarborough, Notts County, Torquay, Huddersfield, Plymouth, Oldham, Bury, Sheffield United, Crystal Palace, QPR, Leeds, Rotherham and – now – Cardiff.
Who are they key man?
Captain Sean Morrison has been a regular at the heart of the defence for a number of years and chips in with his fair share of goals from set-pieces, while Aden Flint joined from Middlesbrough to partner him in the summer.
Joe Ralls has made an impressive start to the season in midfield with his combative edge and calmness on the ball, while up front new signing Robert Glatzel has a couple of goals to his name already.
Danny Ward netted a brace from the bench against the Baggies, while Josh Murphy, Gavin Whyte and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing are among the wide options for Warnock.
