Swansea City 2 Cardiff City 2 South Wales Derby
Swans Claim a Point Against Ten-Man Bluebirds
The Bluebirds were forced to come from a goal behind after Darren Pratley's early strike but goals from local boy Joe Ledley and a Ross McCormack penalty gave Cardiff the lead with only 30 minutes left.
But Captain Steve McPhail earned himself a second yellow card for stupidly kicking the ball away allowing Swansea to dominate and ultimately equalise through Gorka Pintado's volley.
McPhail's red card makes it two derbies out of two that the Irishman has been sent off, probably costing the Bluebirds a vital three points.
McPhail's Second Red Card in Two Derbies
Dave Jones said after the game: "It took us a while to get into the game and a lack of discipline has probably cost us all three points.
"I think he felt it was his ball, but you can't kick the ball away. The last thing you want to do against a passing side is go down to ten men.
"It was a fantastic game but the referee made some strange decisions and didn't seem to understand that it was a derby match."
Cardiff's Second Trip to the Liberty This Season
Cardiff fans may have thought that events of the previous derby in the Carling Cup would reappear after Darren Pratley slotted home from Jason Scotland's low cross early on.
But Cardiff were much improved than the previous derby game and started to find their feet twenty minutes in, a good spell of pressure lead to Joe Ledley's rifling shot just before half time to take the teams in level.
Cardiff returned after the break determined to send all 1600 travelling fans home proud and they were delighted when referee Martin Atkinson awarded a penalty for a foul on Michael Chopra just inside the box.
Ross McCormack confidently stepped up and slotted the Bluebirds into the lead silencing the Liberty Stadium, apart from the small section of Cardiff fans in the North Stand.
But a moment of lunacy by Steve McPhail sent the Bluebirds down to 10 men and ultimately gave Swansea the impetus in the game.
They soon equalised as two of Roberto Martinez's substitutes combined to draw the Swans level, Shaun MacDonald's cross-volleyed home by Gorka Pintado.
The Swans looked for a winning goal and came close with Jason Scotland's effort from six yards, but the Trinidad striker some how hit the back of the stands rather than the net.
Swansea continued to press forward making the most of the loss of Cardiff's captain, but the Swans were denied time and again by goalkeeper Peter Enckelman.
Swansea had Leon Britton sent off late in the game to square both sides on ten men each, but Cardiff were settled for a point after their captain Steve McPhail's dismissal earlier in the game.
Cardiff boss Jones said: "We just shut up shop. Our keeper made a couple of good saves. If we are going to bore people with 10 men then that's what we'll do.
"We got the equalizer and to come out and get 2-1 up 11 v 11 we looked like we were starting to gain control. I think it was a good point earned going down to 10 men."
Swansea and Cardiff are Both Real Play-off Contenders
Both sides went into the game knowing that a win would take them into one of the play-off spots, but neither could find that one extra goal that would separate two very evenly matched sides.
Only one-point separates both South Wales clubs and both will now move on to prove themselves as true play-off candidates.
Both sets of fans will now look forward to April, when the clubs will meet at Ninian Park, with Cardiff hopeful that they can beat their most bitter rivals in the last South Wales derby to be hosted at the historic stadium.
Swansea Team: De Vries, Rangel, Williams, Monk, Bessone (Pintado 58), Britton, Pratley, Gower, Tudur-Jones, Butler (MacDonald 58), Scotland.
Subs not used: Konstantopoulos, Tate, Bauza.
Sent Off: Britton (90).
Booked: Bessone, Pratley, Britton.
Goals: Pratley 19, Pintado 61.
Cardiff Team: Enckelman, McNaughton, Roger Johnson, Gyepes, Kennedy, McPhail, Routledge, McCormack, Ledley (Scimeca 86), Bothroyd (Parry 60), Chopra (Rae 55).
Subs Not Used: Heaton, Comminges.
Sent Off: McPhail (51).
Booked: Roger Johnson, McPhail, Routledge.
Goals: Ledley 45, McCormack 48 pen.
Att: 18,053
Venue: The Liberty Stadium, Swansea
Ref: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire).
Liberty Stadium
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