Cardiff City defender Perry Ng claims the Bluebirds will travel to Ashton Gate this weekend with their tails up and with a sense of revenge on their mind following defeat at the same venue in January.
Cardiff set up Sunday’s Severnside Derby with 0-0 draw at West Brom, 24 hours after the Robins had beaten Luton Town 2-0 meaning both sides go into the derby clash with a sense of optimism and confidence.
That’s a stark difference from when the two sides met in BS3 at the start of the year, with the 3-2 victory breaking a run of five winless games for Bristol City, while defeat sent Cardiff into 20th in the Championship.
Indeed, such has been the revival in south Wales - with Cardiff having taken seven points from their opening four fixtures - Ng says Steve Morison’s new system is a “joy to play” in, with the head coach looking to move away from the Bluebirds being typecast as a direct side.
"It's a big game, a derby," Ng told Wales Online. "They done us last year so we owe them one. We've got to go there, be brave, keep a clean sheet and see what happens.
"I'm loving it. The way we're playing, it's a joy to play in. Morro has got us playing really good football, so I'm really enjoying it. It was a tough first game with the sending off, but that happens, so we've just got to keep keeping clean sheets and keep picking up points."
In referencing the performance against West Brom, he added: "I thought we were brave on the ball, and I think we were unlucky not to win the match. I think we performed really well, we were brave and I'm really proud.
"I think the way we're playing, we're going to create a lot of chances, so it's just about finishing them. But, you can't complain - we've come here, got a clean sheet and a point, so we go again on Sunday.”
Ng’s words echoed that of his manager who claimed his side played with “swagger” in not just frustrating Steve Bruce’s under-performing Baggies, but playing with a freedom and adventure that could have led to them winning the game.
In the last five Severnside derbies at Ashton Gate, City have won two and the Bluebirds three, while there hasn’t been a draw between the two rivals - either in the West Country or south Wales - since the 2015/16 season, 11 games ago, when Steve Cotterill’s side played out a 0-0 stalemate at Cardiff City Stadium.
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