Why does Cardiff vs Swansea kick off at 7:45pm on Saturday? Bitter rivals meet for huge South Wales derby in Championship

Cardiff will take on Swansea in a huge South Wales derby this weekend, but kick-off has been set for an unusual time. 

The bitter rivals clash in the Championship for the first time this season, live on talkSPORT 2, as both teams struggle towards the bottom of the table. 

Cardiff take on Swansea in the South Wales derby this weekendGetty

The Bluebirds have only won one of their opening five fixtures of the campaign but have performed well despite dropping points. 

As for Michael Duff’s Swansea, they are yet to taste victory, drawing two and losing the other three to put them inside the relegation zone. 

This derby is likely to ignite the best of both sides and due to that, the game has been given a prime time slot on television.

Why does Cardiff vs Swansea kick off at 7:45pm? 

This game will take place at 7:45pm on Saturday, September 16. 

Originally, the game was scheduled to get underway at 3pm but it was moved in July. 

This is due to the derby being selected by Sky Sports for TV coverage. 

The change in kick-off time was subject to approval from the South Wales police due to the obvious issues with rival fans, however, they were happy to go ahead with the change. 

talkSPORT 2 will also have live coverage of the game with commentary coming from Nigel Adderley and Chris Iwelumo. 

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

Ramsey has picked up a knock on international dutyGetty

Cardiff vs Swansea: Team news 

Aaron Ramsey has become a slight injury concern ahead of the highly-anticipated derby. 

Cardiff’s star man was withdrawn as a precaution at halftime of Wales’ 2-0 win over Latvia earlier this week. 

The Bluebirds will definitely be without Callum O’Dowda while Callum Robinson and Josh Bowler will be hopeful of recovering in time. 

As for Swansea, they have no new injury concerns in their squad. 

Long-term absentees Liam Walsh and Nathanael Ogbeta are the only players expected to miss out on the derby. 

Cardiff vs Swansea: What has been said? 

Looking ahead to the South Wales derby, Swansea midfielder Joe Allen called for his side to improve after a poor start to the season. 

Allen said: “I am pretty sure everyone here already knows and understands the magnitude of this next game.

“We know we have to do better, it is vital that we do, it is as simple as that, and it is a huge game coming up to try and set things right.

“We’ve had a poor result and poor performance at home, we have had good spells in games, but it is about making sure we stretch that out over a full 90 minutes.

“We have no option other than to dust ourselves down and be better.”

Allen admits Duff’s side need to improveGetty

Cardiff vs Swansea: Match facts 

There were 15 passes in the build-up to Aaron Ramsey’s goal against Ipswich Town last time out, the most in the build-up to a Championship goal scored by Cardiff City since December 2015 (Tony Watt vs Bolton, also 15 passes).Swansea City have dropped the most points from winning positions in the Championship this season (6), losing their last two after going 1-0 ahead. Opponents Cardiff, meanwhile, have failed to win either of their two games this season after going 2-0 ahead (drew 2-2 with Leeds, lost 3-2 to Ipswich).Cardiff are without a clean sheet in their last 16 Championship games, the longest current run of any Championship side. They last went longer without a shutout between August 2021 and January 2022 (25 games).Swansea have won their last three league visits to Cardiff, having only won five of their first 29 English Football League games at the Bluebirds between 1929 and 2020 (W5 D10 L14).Cardiff have lost their last four league games against Swansea City – this is the longest run of victories by either side in this South Wales derby in the English Football League.