Slick Swans too hot for lukewarm Cardiff City

Goals from Jamal Lowe kept the visitors in the driving seat whilst an injury to Kieffer Moore and red card for Joe Ralls made it a tough day for the capital side.

Due to Welsh Government restrictions, fans remain excluded from football matches here, so this usually noisy encounter took place in a fan free zone. The absence of home fans seemed to favour the visitors as most early activity took place around the home penalty area. After only six minutes Swansea took the lead – Jamal Lowe capitalising on a high ball to force the ball into the Cardiff goal.

Cardiff were looking for their in-form Welsh striker at every opportunity but the visitors had clearly done their homework on the big man, crowding him out at a moment’s notice.

Swansea born Mark Harris worked hard for Cardiff City but found his path blocked by dogged defenders. They controlled the early stages with some comfort. Korey Smith looking impressive and Andre Ayew forced Sean Morrison into a lunging challenge which earned the home skipper a yellow card.

On 20 minutes Harry Wilson floated a free kick over the Swansea bar as the Bluebirds sought to gain a foothold. Everything still being aimed through Moore. Free-kicks-a-plenty as these local rivals went toe to toe. Ayew always a threat.

Argy-Bargy around the half hour mark led to yellow cards for Moore and Marc Guehi. Ayew also chose to involve the home manager Neil Harris. Swansea continued to look the more composed outfit despite a spell of sustained Cardiff pressure as the first half ended.

More niggles in the second half as Ralls became the third home player to pick up a yellow card on 46 minutes. Harris was lucky not to join him following a couple of untidy challenges. On 53 minutes Kieffer Moore somehow contrived to back-heel a chance over the bar. This curious incident proved too much of an exertion for Moore who promptly limped off having damaged himself in the process.

More of the game was taking place in the Swansea half now but the away side continued to hold the aces as Ayew went to ground under a strong aerial challenge with the classy Nelson. Ojo produced a rare moment of style from the home side to whistle a shot wide around the hour mark.

Things grew worse for the home side as Ralls saw red following a wild lunge on Smith. Lowe punished the ten men shortly afterwards with a cute finish after Harry Wilson had lost possession for the Bluebirds. It seemed a long way back from here for Neil Harris’ men. Lowe almost became the first man to score a hat trick in this fixture since Ivor Allchurch in 1965 as he curled a lovely effort narrowly wide.

The impressive Lowe left the field shortly afterwards to a standing ovation from what seemed an unusually large contingent of Swansea backroom staff, including one lady in a black & white scarf.

It had been an impressive display by Swansea City. Cardiff’s winning run had been brought to a shuddering halt in a manner their absent fans would have least enjoyed. Down West, one suspects, the party was just starting.

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