Cardiff to outdo Swans - Toshack

Toshack played for Cardiff and was player-manager at Swansea

Legendary former Swansea manager John Toshack thinks arch-rivals Cardiff are better equipped to reach the Championship play-offs than the Swans.

Speaking after Sunday's 2-2 derby draw, he told BBC Sport: "I think Cardiff would probably be a threat for the play-off places, more so than Swansea.

"I hope I'm wrong about Swansea. They don't have one player who has played a full season in the Championship.

"A large percentage of Cardiff's players have international experience."

With the four play-off places, there are so many options all the way down to 14th or 15th place

Wales boss John Toshack

The Wales boss continued: "Cardiff for the last three years have threatened at some time [to reach the play-offs] but they haven't finished in the top 10.

"They look to have a strong squad of players this year.

"You'd think it's two of the three [Wolves, Birmingham and Reading] for the automatic places but with the four play-off places, there are so many options all the way down to 14th or 15th place."

And Toshack, who led the Swans from the Fourth Division to the top flight between 1978 and 1981, has been highly impressed by Swans boss Roberto Martinez.

The Spaniard led the club to promotion from League One in his first full season as a manager, and they current sit eighth - one place below the Bluebirds.

"The manager's in his second season. He's very bright, I like Roberto a lot.

Championship sides don't know how to combat it [Swansea's style] until they're on the bus on the way home normally

Wales boss John Toshack

"I can see what he's trying to do. His way of playing is different to the way any other side play.

"Championship sides don't know how to combat it until they're on the bus on the way home normally.

"Outside the Premier League, he is a serious candidate for manager of the year, for the calendar year.

"What he's done for Swansea is terrific in his first year. I didn't expect them to make the impression they have done. [Ferrie] Bodde's injury is a big loss - he's irreplaceable to the way they play.

"It'll be interested to see how that affects them and to see whether the pressure of the league will catch up with some of the players."