Luke Williams: Swansea City 'cannot wait' for Cardiff City derby
- Published
Luke Williams has won three of his 11 league games since taking over at Swansea in early January
Luke Williams says Swansea City "cannot wait" for the south Wales derby despite a dispiriting defeat at Bristol City.
Swansea saw their three-match unbeaten run come to an end as a Rob Dickie goal settled a drab game at Ashton Gate.
Sunday's loss leaves Swansea only five points clear of the Championship's bottom three going into next Saturday's meeting with Cardiff City.
But Swans boss Williams says league position has no bearing on what is "massive" fixture.
"It's an incredible occasion in the calendar," said Williams, who is preparing for his first Welsh derby as Swansea's head coach.
"It's something we all look forward to. I know it's something everyone looks for first as soon as the fixtures come out.
"We are very disappointed at this moment in time but we will pick ourselves up and prepare for what will be a fantastic occasion. We cannot wait."
Cardiff will travel west on the back of a rousing four-match winning streak which has revived hopes of a late-season play-off push.
Swansea, by contrast, remain in a congested race to pull clear of relegation danger.
There is an added incentive for Cardiff, who have the chance to register their first league double against Swansea having eased to victory over Michael Duff's Swans side last September.
Swansea claimed the first league double for either club in the history of the south Wales derby in 2021-22, with Williams part of Russell Martin's coaching staff for the 3-0 home triumph that season.
Martin's Swansea repeated the feat last term, but the pressure will be on the home side this time around after Ollie Tanner and Aaron Ramsey goals sealed a 2-0 Bluebirds triumph in the autumn.
Williams' team, who are 15th in the Championship, need points to pull clear of the relegation zone - but he says that will not mean extra motivation.
"I think if we were top by 15 points, it wouldn't matter," Williams added.
"This game is massive. It wouldn't make any difference where we were in the division."