The Football League insider looks at the chances of there being Premier League football in Wales in 2011.
Graeme Bailey considers the chances of having a Welsh Premier League side in 2011
As Cardiff City recorded their historic maiden win at The Liberty Stadium on Sunday, the Football League insider looks at the chances of there being Premier League football in Wales in 2011.
There has never been a side from outside England to have played in the Premier League.
And not since 1983, when Swansea were last there, has there been a non-English side to have been in the top-flight.
Now in 2011, the two clubs are pushing hard to seal promotion to the promised land that is the Premier League.
So let us look first at Cardiff, who have come mighy close in recent years under Dave Jones' stewardship.
Last season they lost in the play-off final to Blackpool when odds-on favourites to go up.
Now they are again well placed and they are very much in contention after moving third over the weekend following their first win at rivals Swansea since the late 1990s.
Ambition
Cardiff can boast an England international in Jay Bothroyd, whilst their captain is Craig Bellamy - the highest paid player outside the Premier League - so there is no denying the ambition from The Bluebirds.
Following last season's misery of play-off defeat, there is a genuine sense that Cardiff will not let themselves get carried away this season and they are keeping themselves very much in the promotion picture without yet hitting top form - which is no doubt a good sign.
That brings you on to Swansea, who were leapfrogged by Cardiff on Sunday after they failed to do the double over their fiercest rivals, which unbelievably would have been the first time in the history of their derby that a side would ever have done so.
Swansea, unlike Cardiff, have been in good form of late and arguably are the best footballing side outside the Premier League - but as West Brom have proved in recent years, that hardly stands you in good stead for the top-flight.
Swansea have not splashed nearly as much on their squad, which they seemingly enjoy letting Cardiff know - but Brendan Rodgers has come in and merely tweaked the side he inherited.
The signing of Scott Sinclair has been particularly impressive and he has emerged as one of the top players in the division.
So as it stands, will we see a Welsh side in the Premier League this year...quite possibly.
Having sat through the derby on Sunday, it was clear to see that both sides have Premier League quality - although it was a good job I was getting paid to watch as the match itself was a huge disappointment, as some derby clashes can be.
Whilst Cardiff, as they proved on Sunday, can battle and obviously have a plan B if their passing game is not flowing, you do worry about Swansea not having much else to offer other than their hugely impressive wide-men.
Personally I think that Cardiff look like a side ready to hit their stride and could very well make a push for automatic promotion, that is not ruling Swansea out - but they came up short on Sunday in a huge game which could prove crucial to their top-two aspirations.
But the two automatic promotion places will not necessarily have either Welsh side in, and come May you could very well have both sets of fans travelling across the M4 heading for the play-off final.
So the chances of Premier League football in Wales in 2011 - a distinct possibility.
