A Fourth Successive Victory In The Derby For The Swans



Harry Corish - Sportin Journalist

A fourth successive victory in the derby for the Swans – something neither club had managed before in their history – and it was a “double double”, the second successive season where one clubs has won both fixtures home and away.

In the last nine matches between the clubs, the Swans have won seven, drawn one and lost just once.

It’s a dominance that must irk Bluebirds fans, especially since the decisive blow was delivered as late as the ninth minute of injury time, when Ben Cabango scored the winner.

Putting aside the painful fact that Cabango is a Cardiff boy – raised in Llandaff North – Cardiff’s defeat means they are now only above the relegation zone on goal difference.

Swansea, meanwhile, have earned back-to-back league wins and are heading back up the Championship table towards midway.

A good weekend, for Swansea, then, but a merciless bloody Sunday for two of their former coaches, Brendan Rodgers and Graham Potter, who were sacked by Leicester City and Chelsea, respectively.

No fears of the sack for Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson, whose team reached the 100 points landmark with a 5-1 thrashing of Oldham Athletic that took the Dragons back to the top of the National League.

Paul Mullin grabbed a hat-trick to take him to a very impressive 34 league goals for the season so far – six more than Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.

Wrexham now have a three-point lead over chasers Notts County, plus a game in hand, with five matches left for County and six for Parkinson’s side.

Not that the boss is getting excited yet. Low key as ever, he said: “It was a good all round day, but it’s just another game along the road to where we need to get to.”

Also passing the 100-mark were The New Saints – this time the century mark for goals this season.

The Saints, already Cymru Premier champions, crushed Newtown 5-0 at Latham Park to take their goals scored tally to 101.

Connah’s Quay Nomads now look likely to clinch the runner-up spot after Nathan Burke put through his own goal for the Nomads’ 2-1 win at Bala Town.

Like TNS, Cardiff City Women had already sewn up the title in the Genero Adran Premier, but they stitched up Cardiff Met, too, with a 2-0 away win in their local derby.

Brennan Johnson scored for Nottingham Forest in their 1-1 Premier League draw with Wolves, which may have raised an eyebrow or two on the forehead of Rob Page.

The Wales manager had to do without Johnson for the Euro qualifiers last week after Forest said he was not fit.

In League Two, Newport County drew 0-0 at Colchester United in what County manager Graham Coughlin called, “a dead, damp squib of a game.”

We’ve all seen those.