Williams expects 'ferocious' Swansea at Cardiff

Swansea, who are 12th in the Championship going into the weekend, are 10 points better off than 21st-placed Cardiff

Luke Williams says he expects Swansea City to be "ferocious" at Cardiff City as he looks to maintain his unbeaten record in the south Wales derby.

Swansea head to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday (12:30 GMT) searching for what would be a sixth victory in the past eight meetings with their rivals.

Williams has been at the helm for two derbies, the 1-1 home draw earlier this season and a 2-0 success last March, having also been part of Russell Martin's Swansea staff when they beat Cardiff 3-0 in 2021.

And the Swansea head coach says his team will be motivated by their supporters as they make the short trip east.

"It might sound corny, but it's the thought in your mind of what the fans will be able to do," Williams said.

"It's the thought that they can go out feeling so happy and they can properly enjoy it. We have a game on the Tuesday [against Sheffield United] and I fly to Europe on Sunday to watch a player, then come back to prepare for the next game.

"But for the fans, I want them to have three days [to celebrate a win]. I love that thought of them being so happy, coming back to Swansea and then being out in Swansea, reliving the game and singing the songs. That's the best."

Liam Cullen scored his first league goal of the season in the draw with Cardiff last August

There was no great celebration for Swansea when Cardiff visited last August, as Williams' side controlled the first half – and went in front through Liam Cullen's goal - only to lose their way after the break and concede a late Callum Robinson equaliser.

That meant only a second draw in this fixture since 2009 and frustration for Williams.

Swansea were beaten in dispiriting fashion on their most recent trip to Cardiff, when Michael Duff's team went down 2-0 in September 2023.

But it is the Swans who have enjoyed the upper hand in the derby in recent years, with Cardiff struggling - at times - to cope with their neighbours' possession-based approach.

Asked if he expects Swansea to dominate the ball this weekend, Williams said: "I expect my players to be ferocious and be highly motivated for the game.

"How that looks in terms of how much ball we have and whatever, I don't know. But I know the lads are going to be in a very intense state of mind.

"There is a different emotion [surrounding the derby] and there's no point trying to hide from that. There's no point trying to pretend it's exactly the same as all the other games. It's not."

Swansea are waiting to discover whether Ben Cabango and Harry Darling will be fit to face Cardiff with both players nursing injury issues.

The presence of Williams' first-choice central defensive pairing would be a major boost as Swansea look to end a three-game winless streak in all competitions.

They take on a Cardiff side who are unbeaten in five matches – including an FA Cup victory over Sheffield United - but are hovering above the Championship relegation zone having won only one of their past 13 league fixtures.

"I would normally look at that and be able to see a team maybe lacking confidence or having deficiencies or whatever," Williams said.

"But there's no point. It's a derby, it's the south Wales derby, and it genuinely doesn't matter because it will be a completely different feeling for us and for them."