Swansea v Cardiff : Obafemi to continue South Wales derby dominance

• Elek believes Obafemi can score his 3rd league goal
• Swansea did the double over Cardiff last campaign

Swansea v Cardiff: 12pm Sunday 23rd October, Sky Sports Football

Piroe a blow but Swansea bouncing

The season didn't start well for Swansea City, winning just one of their first seven league games, but since then Russell Martin's side have been in much better form.

They've won six of their last eight games and showed resilience to come back from two-nil down against Reading in midweek to win 3-2. That game came off the back of a 4-0 defeat to Burnley, so really signified a fighting spirit to go alongside the attractive style of Swansea's play.

They will be missing Joel Piroe for this game as he serves the second game of his suspension. Although he is an influential player, Piroe hasn't been in great form this season scoring four goals in 14 games.

He was at his best last season playing in a more withdrawn no.10 role rather than up front on his own, so Michael Obafemi's return to the side in Piroe's absence may not be the worst thing for Swansea ahead of this clash given his ability to run in behind and goalscorer's instincts.

Hudson's audition needs good performance

Mark Hudson made a good start to his caretaker stint with back-to-back wins against Blackburn and Wigan, but two defeats may have seen his chances of landing the job full-time dealt a blow.

There are mitigating circumstances though with Jack Simpson giving away a penalty and being sent off early in the 3-0 midweek defeat at QPR in what can only be described as one of the worst refereeing decisions you will see this season. That Simpson will now been missing for this adds insult to injury.

Hudson has said that he thinks "you can't look at form" ahead of a derby match like this, but there is no doubt that there is an extra incentive for him. Should he lead Cardiff to high-flying Swansea and come home with three points it would be very difficult for those calling the shots to not offer him the job on a longer-term basis.

The bragging rights are Swansea's to lose

This is a ferocious South Wales Derby and there is no denying that Swansea fans have generally come away happier in recent seasons. Swansea won both league meetings with rivals Cardiff last season, and if they win this it will be first time that they have ever beaten their rivals three times in a row in the EFL.

Cardiff have lost four of their last six league visits to Swansea, winning the other two 1-0 in each of the 2010-11 and 2020-21 seasons. Given Swansea have won six of their last eight league games, including each of the last three at home, both historical trends and current form favour the home side.

Obafemi to be the Derby Day hero

Michael Obafemi will likely get the nod again to play up front given Piroe's absence and he will be the main goal threat for the home side, who look value to come away from the game with all three points.

The former Southampton striker has found minutes hard to come by so far this season, and his strike rate hasn't been great with just two goals from 855 minutes. His early season performances were undoubtedly affected by speculation around his future and a possible move to Burnley, and he looked sharper in the Reading game squandering two decent first-half chances.

He scored 12 goals in 2020 minutes last season and that is the kind of return a player of his quality should provide given minutes. It's hard to see him not having a few opportunities in the game, and the 13/5 to score anytime looks the value play.