Saturday March 20th, ko 5:30pm
Live on Sky Sports
Mick McCarthy
“Everybody’s derby is the big derby, wherever you are, wherever you live. Everybody has a derby game against somebody. This is the big game for us and it’s the biggest one, because we’re playing in it tomorrow.
“I used to love them as a player, playing in the big derby games, and I still love them as the manager.
“They always get the hairs standing up on the back of your neck. It’s a lot better with fans in, everybody knows that. But nevertheless, the pride is still at stake.
“The result still matters, the performance still matters and it still matters to the fans that, despite the fact they can’t be in the stadium, it’s their important match. I respect that and we have to do our very best in it.
“Nobody’s ever said to me that my team’s lacked heart and it certainly won’t be wanting on Saturday, that’s for sure.
Match facts
- Swansea are unbeaten in their last four league games against Cardiff (W3 D1), only enjoying a longer run once, going seven unbeaten between 1997 and 2009.
- Cardiff have lost their last two away league games against Swansea, last losing three in a row back in April 1987.
- Swansea have only lost one of their last 15 league games at Liberty Stadium, winning on 10 occasions in this run (D4). The Swans have kept more home clean sheets than any other Championship team this season (11).
- Cardiff are unbeaten in their last seven away league games (W4 D3), they last had a longer such run in February 2013 (9).
- Mick McCarthy is looking to become the first Cardiff City manager to win his first away league match against Swansea City since Russell Osman in 1996-97.
Match officials:
Referee: PAUL TIERNEY
Assistants: Simon Long and James Mainwaring
Fourth Official : Michael Salisbury