Swans stars scoff at 'mind games'

Coca Cola Championship - Swansea City v Cardiff City
Venue: Liberty Stadium Date: Saturday, 7 November Kick-off: 1245 GMT Coverage: Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 live. Extended highlights on The Football League Show on BBC ONE Wales at 0005 GMT on Sunday. Live on Sky Sports 1

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Leon Britton has known Jay Bothroyd since the age of 11

Swansea City's players are refusing to be drawn into a war of words over Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd's comments they are weaker than last season.

The Bluebirds striker claims the Swans are "not the same side they were" since former boss Roberto Martinez left to take charge at Wigan in the summer.

Midfielder Leon Britton says the comments are just "mind games" and would be taken "with a pinch of salt".

And defender Ashley Williams says they will not "bite" at the taunts.

"He's going to say whatever he thinks and obviously he's trying to do a bit of mind games, but we're not listening," said Wales international Williams.

"It was a bit foolish on his part. We are not going to bite to that or anything. We are just going to prepare as we would any other game."

Saturday's highly anticipated derby will see the Championship's top scorers Cardiff trying to unlock the second meanest defence in the division.

Swansea, who are enjoying the Championship's best run - nine unbeaten - have conceded just 10 goals this season which has helped lift them to 11th in the table.

But they have scored just 11 times in their 15 league outings compared to Cardiff's 31 which has helped lift the Bluebirds to third in the Championship.

Britton, however, says form will count for nothing on Saturday.

"These games are like cup finals," he said. "Every time you play it's going to be different and the form book goes out of the window.

"The team that keeps their coolness and keeps calm will be the team that invariably plays better.

"We are all looking forward to it. You can't say it's just another game. It's a special game. It's a game everyone wants to win."

Britton, who has known Bothroyd since the pair were 11-year-olds at Arsenal, said the striker's comments would not be used as motivation when the two teams meet at a sell-out Liberty Stadium.

"These things happen," he added. "When the build-up to these kind of games come along, people say things and try and stir things up, but at the end of the day it's just mind games.

"The lads won't think of it as anything more than a throwaway comment.

"We won't use the comments made by opposition players, managers, supporters or anyone involved on the opposition teams.

"Things like that won't come into a team talk. We will just go about our business."