
However, Swans have reaped the majority of the glory in recent years, including winning the league double for the first time ever and then the “double double” in 2021 and 2023.
Cardiff won yesterday’s crucial South Wales derby in the Welsh capital thanks to goals from Callum Robinson and Dimitrios Goutas in the second half.
Cardiff had settled into the game before halftime, but after a cagey first half in which both teams had few opportunities, they came charging out of the starting blocks and took the lead in the 47th minute when Callum Robinson advanced past Harry Darling to fire low into the bottom right corner after a superb delivery from Ollie Tanner.
It was chaos at Cardiff City Stadium as Robinson, who scored in the 1-1 draw between the two teams in August, first responded to a bad backpass from Josh Tymon to Darling. He intercepted the pass and then put his strike in the exact corner to fire past a defenseless Lawrence Vigouroux and double the Bluebirds’ lead.
A buoyant Cardiff team held Swansea at bay when they went flat on their feet. Just over 20 minutes from time, Dimitrous Goutas headed a strong header into Alex Robertson’s corner to give Cardiff the third and final goal of the match.
It’s not uncommon for tensions to spill over in matches of this magnitude, and there were a number of flashpoints which underpinned the animosity felt on both sides towards the fixture
When Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco bumped into Omer Riza on the sidelines while trying to keep the ball in play, tensions were already high. However, the Bluebirds manager was furious and believed it was intentional, so he was given the order to charge onto the field in revenge.
However, it all culminated in an unidentified post-match brawl between the two groups of players and personnel. However, Williams felt deeply let down by his team’s terrible performance versus City and thinks the Swans saved most of the battle necessary to win the match for after the game.
The 43-year-old told WalesOnline: “I feel very disappointed that we started the game fine and then the performances just evaporate, fall off the edge of a cliff. That’s really upsetting, really worrying.

Although we haven’t always played at the same level, today’s performance was a sharp contrast. Probably 30 minutes in, we began to lose control of the game, gave up numerous corners and free kicks, and then suffered greatly.
“As the game progressed, the suffering of numerous participants worsened. It probably has a lot to do with the mood. The opponent, in my opinion, was able to sense that and did a fantastic job of applying pressure when we were vulnerable.
When quizzed on the post-match coming-together, Williams added: “I think from our point of view it’s pathetic. If we think in any way that it’s going to in some way take attention away from the shoddy performance then they’re very much mistaken.
“The time for fighting was on the pitch. Fighting for the ball. Fighting for our fans.
“To make one more run forward. To make one more tackle. To jump for one more header. To try to make one more action in the box. To try and make one more recovery run when your legs have gone.
“That’s fighting. Not scrapping on the pitch, swearing and pushing. Pathetic.”
Swansea’s performance thus far in 2025 is simply cause for serious concern, as a lot of Williams’ good work from the first half of the season appears to be undone.
Inspired by former Cardiff winger Josh Murphy, the Swans began the New Year with a shocking 4-0 thumping away to relegation-threatened Portsmouth. They then played out a 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion before losing 3-0 to Southampton in the FA Cup third round and, of course, their fierce rivals this weekend.
A thrashing in the South Wales derby was the last thing manager and club needed right now, and Williams himself will have a hard time winning back the Jack Army supporters after a lot of controversy surrounding his remarks about rumors that linked him to the then-open Baggies position, which he refrained from playing down.
The character of Swansea’s loss was quite alarming.
The visitors fell some way off playing with the intensity, tempo, fire and passion which has so often underpinned their most famous scalps in recent years as they were repeatedly punished and put to the sword by a Cardiff side who, quite simply, wanted it so much more.
However, it might not get any easier for Williams and Swansea, who will have a difficult time clearing their heads and trying to get back on track. Their next game is a tough trip to league leaders Sheffield United, followed by games against Norwich, Coventry, and Bristol City.