Swansea City v Cardiff City: Stakes high in south Wales derby

Cardiff took their time before sorting out the future of Erol Bulut in the summer, with the former Fenerbahce boss eventually given a new two-year deal in early June on the back of the progress he oversaw in the Welsh capital last season.

Bulut won plenty of admirers during the last campaign, when he led a team who finished one place above the bottom three in 2022-23 to a mid-table finish.

Continuity in the Cardiff manager’s office, combined with some decent-looking summer transfer work, meant there was optimism in the air as the Bluebirds walked out to face Sunderland on the opening day of this season.

But a 2-0 home defeat was followed by 5-0 mauling at Burnley last weekend.

The second-half display at Turf Moor was particularly dispiriting, even though Burnley are among the promotion favourites and Cardiff gave them plenty to think about before the break.

BBC Radio Wales pundit Kevin Ratcliffe called Cardiff’s efforts in the second period at Burnley “embarrassing” – having described “some of the football” in the first half as being “as good as I have seen Cardiff play”.

The cold facts are that Bulut’s team are one of only three second-tier teams without a point this season, and one of two who are yet to score a league goal.

Though 2024-25 is only a matter of days old, there is already talk of pressure on Bulut as he prepares for a third taste of the south Wales derby.