Cardiff v Swansea: Sky Bet Championship predictions, team-news & free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Cardiff City v Swansea City in the Sky Bet Championship.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Football, midday Sunday

Best bet

Under 2.5 goals
1pt 10-11 bet365
Back this tip with bet365 here

Team news

Cardiff
Neil Harris may opt for defensive changes after Cardiff's 6-1 hiding by QPR. Aden Flint is one of those under threat with Sean Morrison and Sol Bamba pushing for a start. Nathaniel Mendez-Laing is ruled out for the rest of the season.

Swansea
Marc Guehi is expected to join on loan from Chelsea but this fixture may come too soon for him. Ben Wilmot, who scored the winner in this fixture in October, is expected to return having missed their FA Cup tie.

Match preview

Swansea are bidding for a slice of Welsh footballing history as they look to complete a first league double over their bitter rivals Cardiff.

The Swans, who won 1-0 at the Liberty Stadium in October, begin this round of fixtures in the playoff places but they suffered an embarrassing 5-1 defeat in the FA Cup against QPR last week.

Swansea coach Steve Cooper will be hoping that result was only a blip and now all focus is on a return to the Premier League.

Swansea's league form has been solid in recent weeks with only West Brom and Brentford, two of the top three in the Sky Bet Championship, beating them since the start of December.

They recorded back-to-back league clean sheets for the first time since September 2018 in their last two league fixtures against Barnsley and Charlton.

Cardiff also endured a horrible trip to Loftus Road when they lost 6-1 to QPR on New Year's Day.

That was followed by a home draw in the FA Cup against League Two Carlisle, leaving Neil Harris with an unwelcome trip to Cumbria on Wednesday for the replay.

The former Millwall manager has enjoyed a good start to life in Wales overall. The QPR horror show was only his second defeat in ten league matches in charge and they are unbeaten at home under Harris.

Cooper has demanded a response from his players after their FA Cup exit, saying they didn't give their all at Loftus Road but they are seeking a first victory on Cardiff soil since 2010.

Goals are often at a premium in this fixture. Four of the last five league meetings have ended 1-0 and another tight encounter could be on the cards. Cardiff have been far better defensively at home this season, conceding just ten goals in 12 games compared to 30 in 14 away games.

Swansea are in the top four when it comes to away goals conceded with 15, so a keenly contested derby can be expected.