Steve Cooper has urged his Swansea City players to keep their faith as their play-off hopes continue to fade. The Swans manager had little to offer but optimism after his side were held to a 1-1 draw at Millwall that moved them up to eighth in the Championship table. But they remain four points adrift of the play-off places with games fast running out and the only consolation of a disappointing night was the fact that Cardiff City failed to extend that gap to six points.

Neil Harris insists the glass is half full for Cardiff City despite the setback of their goalless draw at home to Charlton on Tuesday night. The Cardiff City manager believes the context of other clubs failing to take advantage means it was a point gained rather than two lost as they seek to consolidate their position in the Championship play-offs. “Millwall and Swansea drew, Blackburn were beaten and so we have to be pleased with a clean sheet and a point,” said Harris, whose team remain four points clear of Preston, Swansea City and Derby County.

Cardiff City’s own Bob Marley is focused on a Premier League mission – and manager Neil Harris is delighted with his German striker. Robert Glatzel has scored two goals in two Championship matches off the bench and Harris has described him, “as good a finisher as anybody I have worked with or played with. Glatzel was named Robert after reggae legend Marley, who was a favourite with his father Ghermani, a refugee who travelled from Eritrea to Germany.

Jenny Nesbitt is an international runner and a student. That’s proven a challenge over the past three months, but on Tuesday night there is an opportunity to see her in both worlds. Transatlantic Storytelling (8.00pm https://transatlanticstorytelling.com) involves seven sporting tales from Cardiff Met, including Nesbitt’s back story. Her more recent tale from the trackside is told here to Dai Sport. I thought I would start off by introducing myself. I am Jenny Nesbitt, a Masters student, adventurer, wannabe baker and a Welsh and British international distance runner. I would probably define myself as a slightly obsessive adherer to the ‘grind’, with the type of personality trait that would never allow me to finish a run with 9.98miles on my Garmin.

Matt Grimes has told his Swansea City side they need a huge improvement at Millwall tonight if they are to recover ground in the race for the Championship play-offs. The Swans visit The Den on the back of an extremely damaging 1-0 home defeat to bottom club Luton Town at the weekend. That loss – coming a week after their emphatic 3-0 win at Middlesbrough a week before when the season re-started – has left them back in 10th place and four points adrift of the play-off places.

Albert Adomah has claimed he should have stayed at Nottingham Forest rather than get dragged into a dispute between his parent club and Cardiff City. The winger has returned to Forest after Cardiff failed to extend his loan spell, despite appealing to the EFL. Bluebirds manager Neil Harris branded the decision a disgrace, but Adomah has insisted he never wanted to leave Forest in the first place and the row could have been avoided.

Former Cardiff City youth team striker Eli Phipps has signed for Southern League Merthyr Town. The arrival of Welshman Phipps is a major boost for Martyrs manager Gavin Williams following a series of player departures. Phipps, aged 22, has also played for League Two Colchester United and Southern League Western-super-Mare.

Cardiff Devils will go into the 2020-21 ice hockey season with a completely new coaching team. Head coach Andrew Lord announced earlier this month his departure to take over at East Coast League Greenville Swamp Rabbits, while his Devils assistant Luke Piggott is heading to Switzerland. Piggott, who was born in Calgary, Canada, but grew up in Britain, has been with the Devils for a decade, seven years as a player and three on the bench.

Billy McBryde is using Josh Adams as his inspiration as he keeps on working his way north to try to find a way back towards a full-time career with a Welsh region. The 2016 Wales Under 20 Grand Slam outside-half spent the past two seasons playing for Colwyn Bay-based RGC 1404 in the Welsh Premiership after being released by the Scarlets. Now, he has picked up a contract in the English Championships at Doncaster Knights.

Nathan Jones has been backed to perform a great escape at Luton after the Welshman returned over the border to dent Swansea City’s play-off hopes. Jones – the Rhondda-born manager who was sacked by Stoke City earlier this year – has now won twice at the Liberty Stadium this season. In October, Jones masterminded a 2-1 victory, although it was not enough for him to be sacked by Stoke the following month.

Glamorgan director of cricket Mark Wallace has paid tribute to Craig Meschede after the county’s all-rounder was forced to retire through injury. The South African-born all-rounder – who played international cricket for Germany – has announced he is to stop playing because of a bicep and upper arm problem. The 28-year-old has been suffering with a Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome since mid-way through last season, limiting his shoulder mobility and strength, and after months of rehabilitation work has taken the advice of specialists to retire from the game.

Welshmen in Bermudas are a common sight at this time of year, whatever the weather. But what about Welsh rugby players in Bermuda? Like the shorts, they come out every year. Each November, the World Rugby Classic is held on the island for vintage rugby stars seeking fun, sun, and top quality rugby. Colin Charvis played in three tournaments and tells Graham Thomas of the appeal, as S4C prepare to dip into the archives. Colin Charvis can remember the day when he realised Old Father Time had caught up with him in Bermuda. The former Wales captain – still Wales’ fifth highest all-time tryscorer, and way out on his own as the leading forward with 22 from 94 caps – was a regular visitor to the annual World Rugby Classic, held on the subtropical island.

Steve Cooper is ready to shake things up at Swansea City after questioning his players’ attitude during their jolting home defeat to bottom club Luton Town. The Swansea City head coach was unimpressed by his players’ mental approach and said he would consider swift changes for the next game at Millwall on Tuesday night. The defeat undid the good start to the resumption the Swans had achieved with their 3-0 away win at Middlesbrough and leaves the club back in 10th position in the Championship, four points adrift of the play-off places.

Joe Ralls went into Cardff City’s match at Preston North End with his eyes wide open – and insists that’s the way they stayed. Ralls scored City’s opening goal in a 3-1 win at Deepdale from a rare header and said: “There’s photo proof that I kept my eyes open!” He nipped in ahead of captain Sean Morrison to score the first goal at the far post from a Dion Sanderson cross.

Rhian Brewster captured the headlines for Swansea City last week, when his two goals in the 3-0 victory at Middlesbrough included a celebration that showed her personal commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement. Swans manager Steve Cooper believes the 20-year-old is maturing fast – on and off the field – and says the on-loan Liverpool striker, who faces Luton Town at the Liberty Stadium today, is capable of fulfilling his career ambitions.

It’s week three of Super Rugby this weekend and there’s plenty more Welsh interest in goings on in New Zealand. Warren Gatland’s Chiefs come up against the Crusaders, who now have former Wales wing Mark Jones in their coaching set-up. Speaking from Christchurch, Jones says his team are ready to extend Gatland’s frustrations as he told Graham Thomas. Mark Jones intends to buy Warren Gatland a beer this weekend – to think him for his guidance and commiserate on a third successive defeat. That’s the plan, at least, for the former Wales wing, who is now defence coach with the all-conquering Crusaders side in New Zealand.

Will Vaulks believes Neil Warnock can pull off another great escape at Middlesbrough to set up a nervy penultimate fixture for play-off chasing Cardiff City. The Wales midfielder was mysteriously under-employed by Warnock after the former Bluebirds boss brought Vaulks to the club exactly one year ago. Vaulks had thrived under Warnock at Rotherham when they pulled off their own unlikely scramble away from a threatened relegation to League One three years ago.

Wales centre Nick Tompkins is to join the Dragons on a year-long loan, the region have confirmed. The 25-year-old – who made his international debut earlier this year – has put pen to paper to join the Men of Gwent from English Premiership side Saracens. Dean Ryan, Dragons director of rugby, said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome a player of Nick’s calibre to the region.

Leading Welsh athletes Sam Gordon and Jenny Nesbitt are two of seven Welsh sports men and women to star in a new documentary that will showcase the riches at Cardiff Met. Called “Transatlantic Storytelling”, the film is a snapshot of Welsh sport told through the eyes of the renowned Welsh university’s most successful sports stars and is a collaboration between Met students and those at a partner American university. Gordon, Wales’ fastest sprinter and 5,000m Olympic hopeful Nesbitt both figure in the documentary, alongside Paralympian word record holder Harrison Walsh, football coach Christian Edwards, Wales netballer Lydia Hitchings, cricketer Sam Pearce and triathlete Will Godwin, who, perhaps, has the most extraordinary personal story of all.

Steve Cooper insists it took no arm-twisting to ensure Wayne Routledge, Kyle Naughton, Mike van der Hoorn, Nathan Dyer and Erwin Mulder stayed on for Swansea City’s promotion push. The five players were all due to be out of contract by June 30, which would have placed a doubt over their availability for the remainder of this extended season. Their deals have all been renewed until 4 August, the date of the Championship play-off final, but manager Cooper says it was a painless process even though injuries could leave them in a vulnerable position if they eventually turn to other clubs.