Derby humbling leaves Swans in need of better days

Three weeks ago, Swansea City scored a stoppage-time goal to beat Luton Town and strengthen the belief that Luke Williams' team may just be able to push for a place in the play-offs this season.

After the final whistle, Williams punched the air in front of a jubilant Swansea crowd who had just witnessed a second home victory in three days.

For Swansea, life was pretty good.

Three heavy defeats and a somewhat fortuitous draw later, the mood has shifted dramatically.

Swansea were beaten 4-0 at Portsmouth on New Year's Day – when the scoreline was ugly even if aspects of their performance were not that bad – before Williams' men scraped a point after a weary performance against West Brom.

Then came a meek FA Cup exit at Southampton, which was a little dispiriting even if it was no great shock.

And now Swansea are left licking their wounds having been outfought and outplayed by their neighbours on what goes down as the worst day of the Williams era.

A defeat like Southampton can quickly be forgotten, but Saturday's 3-0 humbling at Cardiff City will linger in the memory for Swansea's fans.

This is the fixture which matters most in south Wales. Swansea players are all aware of that, whether they have come through the academy or are recent recruits from another corner of the planet.

For the most part, Swansea's fans have been spoiled on derby day in recent years.

Before this weekend, they had won five of the past seven games against the Bluebirds, with a couple of thumping victories along the way and that extraordinary moment to savour in April 2023 when Ben Cabango struck a 99th-minute winner at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Russell Martin delivered the first league double in the history of the south Wales derby, then followed it up with another one in the following season. These were special times.

Swansea's winning run ended when Michael Duff's team were well beaten in the capital last season, and now the class of 2024-25 have suffered what is probably an even more painful defeat.

After the double double, Cardiff had been due some better day against their rivals.

Yet that does not make defeat any easier for Swans fans to swallow.

For Swansea, a loss to Cardiff would be difficult to bear even if it came after 10 straight victories.

The fact that this weekend's loss was the latest in a line of setbacks means there is cause for concern as Williams' side prepare to face the Championship leaders, Sheffield United, on Tuesday night.

Swansea remain in mid-table, a position every follower of the club would surely have been happy with at the start of the season.

But after a torrid spell – which has coincided, whether relevant or not, with the stories linking Williams with West Brom – Swansea could do with a couple of better days.

Suddenly, after all, that rousing victory over Luton seems a long time ago.