Craig Harrison

The New Saints are nine points clear at the top of the JD Cymru Premier, but that has not stopped manager Craig Harrison from ripping into his champions.

It may have taken eight games to do so, but reigning champions The New Saints found themselves back in familiar territory at the summit of the Cymru Premier at the weekend.

The New Saints are back in their favourite position – on top, as Rob Cole reports.

There will be no fairytale extended runs into European football this year for The New Saints who bowed out after a 1-0 defeat to Differdange in the second leg of their Conference League qualifying tie

It ended goalless but far from hopeless for The New Saints after they began another European adventure – this time against old foes.

The New Saints are still the dominant force in Welsh domestic football after winning the JD Welsh Cup to add to their Cymru Premier title and Welsh League Cup triumphs.

The New Saints roll on with an 11th Welsh League Cup Final Triumph in the Nathaniel MG Cup and insists there’s more to come.

The New Saints boss Craig Harrison told his players to be proud of their performance despite suffering defeat to Panathinaikos to leave their hopes of reaching the next round of the Conference League hanging by a thread. Filip Duricic put the Greek giants ahead in the 15th minute, beating the outstanding Connor Roberts at the second attempt, before Fotis Ioannidis sent the TNS goalkeeper the wrong way from the penalty spot just after the hour to settle it in a 2-0 win.

Craig Harrison insists The New Saints remain capable of making the Conference League knockout phase despite suffering a third group defeat. The Welsh champions lost 1-0 to Djurgarden at their temporary Shrewsbury base as their streetwise Swedish opponents called on all their European experience to prevail.

Craig Harrison asked for a reaction from his players following their shock 3-1 defeat to Briton Ferry Llansawel earlier in the week and he got it in spades as The New Saints moved to within a point of the top of the JD Cymru Premier table. They were forced to do it the hard way after falling behind to two goals in as many minutes from former Cardiff City academy star James Crole that gave league leaders Penybont a handy half-time lead at Park Hall.

Craig Harrison has urged his New Saints side not to get too down-hearted after they suffered a 2-1 defeat at Shamrock Rovers in their latest Europa Conference League tie. TNS had led 1-0 but the Irish side came from behind to beat the Cymru Premier champions at Tallaght Stadium.

Craig Harrison is dreaming The New Saints making the knockout stages of a European tournament after they became the first Welsh Premier side to gather points at the group stage of a major European competition. TNS beat Astana from Kazakhstan, 2-0 at The New Meadow, Shrewsbury Town’s ground, to write themselves into the history books.