Two goals from Darren Pratley helped Swansea to a thrilling 3-2 Championship win over Cardiff City at the Liberty Stadium.

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Swansea took charge of the game from the start as Nathan Dyer nodded home after just nine minutes before Pratley scored his first seven minutes later.

The visitors fought back heroically, with two goals in four minutes from Jay Bothroyd and Mark Hudson putting the sides on terms.

But Pratley converted a brilliant cross from Federico Bessone just after the hour mark to score the decisive goal that put the Swans into the play-off spots - at least temporarily - while at the same time denting Cardiff's hopes of catching Newcastle at the top of the Championship.

The eagerly-anticipated South Wales derby had a superb atmosphere from the start, and within three minutes only a great save from Cardiff keeper David Marshall stopped Craig Beattie from scoring while through on goal.

But just seven minutes later Bessone - who was only on the pitch after Gary Monk was injured in the warm-up - put in a lovely cross from the left, and when Marshall lost his footing Dyer was there to nod the ball in unopposed.

And when Pratley turned and shot in a brilliant bicycle kick on 16 minutes from Leon Britton's nod-down the Swans were firmly in control.

Ten minutes later Joe Allen almost made it three with a powerful long-range effort from just outside the box that drew a superb diving stop from Marshall.

Cardiff slowly fought their way back into the game, and just after the half-hour mark Bothroyd beat the offside trap and chested the ball down brilliantly before placing the ball in the bottom left.

And just three minutes later the Bluebirds had an equaliser as Ross McCormack's inch-perfect free-kick crossed in from the right found Hudson at the far post to nod home.

Hudson appeared to get away with a handball just before half-time and the sides went in level, but as the match re-started both sides kept things tighter to limit the flow of chances.

McCormack - lively throughout for the visitors - hammered a free-kick against the cross-bar just before the hour mark to boost Cardiff hopes of finding a winner, but two minutes later hope turned to disappointment as Bessone once again delivered a superb cross from the left, and Pratley popped up in the six-yard box to finish.

With the crowd roaring their approval Swansea never looked back, and kept control of the remainder of the game to finish up winners of a memorable derby.