Cardiff City

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

For only the second time in 13 years, Cardiff City have returned home from Swansea having avoided defeat in the south Wales derby.

No wonder, therefore, that the Bluebirds’ travelling fans celebrated a 1-1 draw at the Swansea.com Stadium as if it was a victory, particularly having seen their team trail for so long after Liam Cullen’s early goal.

When Cullen swept in after 10 minutes, it seemed Swansea were on the way to a ninth victory in the past 12 south Wales derbies.

That feeling did not change during the first half, when Swansea looked sharper and more menacing than a Cardiff side left battling to stay in the game.

But the contest changed after the break, thanks in part to Cardiff improving as a result of their substitutions while Swansea’s changes saw the home side lose their way.

The shift in momentum meant Swansea could not complain when Callum Robinson – who last found the target in November 2023 – met fellow substitute Ollie Tanner’s cross with the cool finish which earned his team a point.

Erol Bulut was presumably wearing a smile after the game, though only those on the Cardiff team bus could tell us for sure after he was sent from the dugout in the closing stages.

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Bulut’s dismissal – after he held on to the ball when Swansea wanted to take a throw-in, prompting a melee – meant he was barred from speaking to the media after the game.

But we can assume he was happy with the way his team fought back to claim a draw on a ground where Cardiff have not had too much to shout about in recent years.

Any point is welcome on derby day, and this one was particularly timely given that Cardiff had taken nothing from the first two league games of the season.

Bulut’s players can now look ahead to back-to-back home games – against Southampton in the League Cup in midweek, and Middlesbrough in the Championship next weekend – in more confident mood.

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We asked for your views on Cardiff City as they prepare for Sunday's south Wales derby.

Here are some of the things you told us.

Jon: Worried that we don’t have the creativity pace and goals again this season and as for Sunday am praying that we can somehow get a result!

Mark: I think if Erol [Bulut] plays [Callum] O'Dowda further up field on left, [Chirs] Willock on the right and [Callum] Robinson up front alongside [Wilfried] Kanga, then [Aaron] Ramsey [Alex] Robertson in the middle with the new defence singing, we have a great chance of winning.

Lee: We have played some great football but ultimately two defeats. With the right tactics I think we should be looking to win the game with the quality we have. Time for Rambo (Aaron Ramsey) to step up.

Paul: Cardiff have to bring in a striker before August window closes. I thought that would have been a priority, but Erol Bulut seems too focused on defenders and midfielders. You can have the best defence and midfield in the Championship but if you haven't got someone up front to put ball in net, you're going to struggle. So Sunday's game away to Swansea will be a draw.

Rhiannon: Bulut's tactics are the same. There is no attacking football being played. We conceded seven goals in two games and then we sell our best defender in [Mark] McGuinness. Give [Jak] Alnwick a start - after that performance against Burnley, [Ethan] Horvath does not merit a starting place. I won't be surprised if in December Bulut is sacked or we are in a relegation battle.

Simon: Poor results don't inspire confidence but it really is early days. The performance against Swansea is for me, much more important than the result. I don't subscribe to the 'win ugly' school of thought as usually, it means 'lose often' because the style of football played is rubbish.

Sion: We have made a few signings and a change in style. I believe we will come good. Watching the Burnley documentary and they struggled until the end of August. We could still come good. I hope a different type of game in the derby helps is gel that little bit quicker.

Lyn: Whilst it’s still early days, the minus seven goal difference and lack of a 'seasoned' striker are concerns. The Swansea game has now become even more important (if that is possible). Patience and a bit of luck will be needed this season.

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Cameron Antwi says it was a “risk” to turn down a new deal at Cardiff City to join neighbours Newport County - but is sure he made the right choice.

The former Fulham youngster made the move down the M4 in the summer.

Though it meant dropping down to League Two, the midfielder opted to sign a two-year deal with the Exiles rather than accepting an offer to remain at Championship side Cardiff.

“I didn’t feel like it was a big decision," said Antwi.

"I felt it was an easy decision, because at my age I want to be playing first-team games and feel I am good enough to.

“So when Newport came about and with the interest they were showing, it was the right decision for me to say no to Cardiff, take a risk and come here to play."

Antwi, 22, began his professional career with Blackpool, making a League Cup appearance for the Seasiders and gaining experience during loans at Southport and Telford.

Having joined Cardiff in 2022, he made his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup and impressed enough to be offered a new contract in the summer.

“They offered me a contract a couple of times. They wanted me to stay but I just felt it was the right time to move on and impose myself on first-team football," he said.

“I thought, 'Let's take the risk and go'. I am happy I took that risk and feel it is going well so far.”

Antwi made an eye-catching start to his Newport career, scoring a spectacular goal in a pre-season win over Pontypridd. More importantly, he has started both the club's League Two games to date.

“I like to get on the ball, start attacks and also link up with players," he said.

"But I can also do the other side of the game, win tackles and headers. I feel I am a rounded player.”

London-born Antwi has been joined by former Cardiff team-mate Kieron Evans, who has joined Newport on a season-long loan.

Though Evans' arrival adds competition for a starting berth, Antwi is looking forward to seeing the Wales Under-20 international in an amber shirt.

“He is a very good player, right-footed, left-footed, does set-pieces, can beat his man, can link up and score goals and assists as well," Antwi added.

"It's good to have competition in the team. When you are around good players you want to perform better."

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Michael Chopra feels Cardiff City's poor start to the 2024-25 Championship season will be irrelevant when they take on Swansea City.

The Bluebirds go into the first south Wales derby meeting of the season on Sunday on the back of league defeats to Sunderland and Burnley.

However, ex-Cardiff striker Chopra believes the derby is "a totally different game".

"I think what's good about the game, I think a lot of the supporters don't expect Cardiff to win the game, especially off the back of the two results they've had," Chopra told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Speak to them about the Burnley game last week, they say it wasn't a 5-0 game. They played well but just couldn't score goals, they had a lot of chances.

"In a local derby, form goes out of the window.

"I've played in these games before when we've come off the back of defeats or when we've been winning. It's a totally different game.

"As long as Cardiff don't turn up and play like they did last year [at Swansea], I'm hoping they can get a good result."

Erol Bulut's side beat the Swans 2-0 at Cardiff City Stadium in September last year before losing by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture in Swansea in March.

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Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut has urged midfielder Ryan Wintle to leave the club for pastures new ahead of next week’s transfer window closure.

But he has suggested Wintle’s fellow midfielder Andy Rinomhota is likely to stay with the Championship club.

Wintle has not featured in pre-season or during the embryonic campaign after Bulut made it clear the 27-year-old was free to go.

The move came as a surprise because Wintle appeared in 42 league games last season and was captain on occasions.

Now the Cardiff manager says time is running out for the former Crewe Alexandra player to sort himself to avoid a lengthy spell on the sidelines without involvement if he stays fit.

Wintle’s departure would also leave Bulut clearer on his own squad requirements in the last week of the transfer window.

According to the Cardiff manager, there are clubs keen to take the midfielder.

Bulut said: “On his side, he and his agent have to make a decision. I know that they have interest but the decision should be on their side. They have to make a decision quick.”

During the summer, Bulut explained his decision over Wintle, saying there were “issues” with the player over squad rotation.

Now Bulut says: “I know from him last season, he wants to play every minute and they are losing time because he wants to play. They have to move on because he wants to play."

In contrast, 27-year-old Rinomhota, who had been tipped by some for a move away after a loan spell at Rotherham United last season, looks set to remain.

The Zimbabwe international joined the Bluebirds in 2022 on a three-year deal having been at Reading.

This season he has played against Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup but has been an unused substitute in Cardiff’s two Championship defeats at home to Sunderland and away to Burnley.

Bulut said: “It looks like Andy is going to stay with us. We cannot let everybody go, when we see the midfield players we have.

“Of course we have time until August 30, but for now we make a decision that we continue like that.

“Andy has good qualities to fight for us when we need him. He is a fighter and sometimes you need this kind of player in your team, so it looks like he will stay with us.”

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Cardiff City goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has been assured he will start in Sunday's derby away to Swansea City.

The USA international conceded a dreadful own goal in last Saturday's 5-0 Championship defeat at Burnley.

But Cardiff boss Erol Bulut has told the former Nottingham Forest stopper he retains his confidence ahead of the Swans clash.

Bulut said: "With goalkeepers it's always on the line. It's not easy for goalkeepers for sure. Ethan will have the full support of me. I cannot judge my player, Ethan, because of one mistake.

"We have to speak about how many goals he has saved for us. This has happened.

"He didn't want this, we didn't want this, we planned for it to be different against Burnley, we dominated the game against a team who got relegated from the Premier League.

"The first 45 minutes we played quite a good game, only the goals were missing.

"We conceded a goal like this where the ball goes through his legs, this happens to the best goalkeepers in the world.

"I think he knows we still count on him and we are behind him. This week he will be in the goal against Swansea."

Horvath joined Cardiff from Forest last January for an undisclosed fee. He won promotion from the Championship in the previous season at Luton Town and in the 2021-22 campaign was promoted to the top flight with Forest.

On his arrival at Cardiff he quickly established himself as first choice for the rest of the campaign.

He began this season with possession of the number one shirt, ahead of Jak Alnwick, who so far this term has only made one appearance, in the Carabao Cup win over Bristol Rovers.

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Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi is poised for a surprise Cardiff City debut in Sunday's Championship derby away to Swansea City.

El Ghazi joined Cardiff at the end of July as a free agent having, had his contract terminated by Bundesliga club Mainz last autumn over a social media post referencing the conflict in Gaza.

At the time Cardiff manager Erol Bulut thought it would be around a month before he would be able to feature.

Now the Bulut is contemplating giving the former Aston Villa and Everton flyer a club bow in the most fierce of circumstances, at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Bulut said: "El Ghazi for now looks good. He will also be with us for the weekend.

"But of course we have to see how long we are going to use him. He has trained, but it's not the same when you train individually. Team training is different.

"He has had three weeks training with us, so I think he can be available for 30 minutes.

"He is a quality player, he can change the direction of the game and could change results."

It may be early in the season, but it's still the game Swansea City and Cardiff City fans have been waiting for. Or maybe not.

Whether you love it or loathe it, the south Wales derby is back on Sunday as the latest chapter in a 112-year rivalry gets ready to be written.

Will it be Cardiff revenge after their joy in breaking Swansea's stranglehold proved short-lived when Luke Williams' side stormed to a home victory back in March?

Or is normal Swansea service fully restored in this fixture as they look for a sixth win from the last seven derbies?

Is Aaron Ramsey ready to battle back from fitness worries to inspire again like he did at Cardiff City Stadium?

Or is Robert Earnshaw right when he says the pressure is already on Erol Bulut and his side after last week's 5-0 loss at Burnley?

You can send us your pre-derby views here, external.

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Cardiff City are close to completing a deal to sign Manchester United’s Will Fish.

The defender is due to have a medical today to put the seal on a move which could cost the Bluebirds up to £2m.

It remains to be seen whether the signing of the 21-year-old will be done in time for him to be available for Cardiff City’s trip to face Championship rivals Swansea City on Sunday.

But with Norwegian under-21 defender Jesper Daland having signed earlier this week, there is no rush for the deal to be sorted.

Fish will be Cardiff’s seventh signing of the summer following Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Alex Robertson, Wilfried Kanga, Anwar El Ghazi and Daland.

This week Cardiff have also sold centre back Mark McGuinness to Championship rivals Luton Town for a fee which could reach £10m.

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City may have lost their man - but they certainly got their price after agreeing to let Mark McGuinness leave for Luton Town.

The 23-year-old centre-back completed his move to Kenilworth Road with the player said to be keen for a new challenge.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut had stated the player would only be allowed to go if Luton matched the club's valuation.

And although the deal was officially undisclosed by both parties, it is understood the fee could be worth up to the £10m price-tag the Bluebirds placed on McGuinness' head.

That will include add-ons on top of a lower initial fee but, regardless, it means McGuinness has shot into the top 10 of Cardiff's record departures.

The biggest fee received by the Bluebirds stands at around £10m, with both Gary Medel's 2014 move to Inter Milan and Bobby De Cordova-Reid's 2019 switch to Fulham reportedly hitting that figure.

Steven Caulker's 2014 exit in a £8.5m move to QPR is also high up the list, with Kenneth Zohore's £8m move to West Brom in 2019 just behind.

Midfielder Jordon Mutch's move to QPR in 2014 was valued at £6m, with the £5m sales of Roger Johnson to Birmingham in 2009 and Michael Chopra to Sunderland in 2007 next up.

Now back at the club, Aaron Ramsey's first spell with the Bluebirds ended in 2008 when Arsenal agreed to pay £5m for the then teenager, a fee eventually reduced to £4.8m when the Gunners offered to pay a greater sum up front.

Back in 2004, Robert Earnshaw became what was then Cardiff's record sale when the goalscoring hero was sold to Premier League West Brom for £3.5m.

Not all fees were formally disclosed, meaning it becomes increasingly difficult to officially rank Cardiff's big-money departures.

But it is clear that McGuinness' move places him among the club's record sales.

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Former striker Robert Earnshaw is "worried" about Cardiff City ahead of Sunday's south Wales derby away to Swansea City.

The Bluebirds fan-favourite says manager Erol Bulut will be feeling the pressure heading into the clash with their rivals.

Following their 5-0 loss to Burnley last Saturday, Cardiff sit bottom of the Championship, still awaiting their first point.

Earnshaw acknowledged that performances in the opening two fixtures have been "nowhere near where the standard [they] should be".

The former Wales international, who made more than 200 appearances for the Bluebirds, told Radio Wales Breakfast: "Two games in it is still early, but this is not how you prepare for a south Wales derby; this is one of your biggest games of the season.

"I’m a little bit nervous for Cardiff because those two games against Sunderland and Burnley were tough - but that’s nowhere near where the standard should be.

"I believe that they can change it around, but I’m worried because 5-0 last weekend was so devastating for them, and this weekend you’ve got to be ready to get flying again, you’ve got to perform."

Swansea have won seven of the last 10 south Wales derbies and come in to the fixture following a convincing 3-0 win over Preston North End.

Earnshaw added: "They [Cardiff] have to perform, they can’t lose - so that’s why I’m worried.

"Swansea will be favourites, they’ve won so many at home in the last few games against Cardiff, they’ve won seven out of 10 of the south Wales derbies, so they’ll be big, big favourites and that’s why I’m worried for Cardiff City."

Asked if he felt boss Bulut would be under pressure if the Swans inflicted a third loss from their opening three games, Earnshaw said: "It’s still early, I don’t think any decision will be made, but... if you go to Swansea and lose three in a row, if you go and perform again like you did last weekend and perform in that way, of course there is going to be pressure.

"But I think Cardiff have got a good team, I think they have got good players, I think they have the potential to turn things around."