Neil Warnock has wasted little time before ruffling feathers in Scotland after questioning the attitude of Rangers’ ball boys. The former Cardiff City manager queried the ball boys’ tactics after his first game as Aberdeen boss ended with a tense 2-1 defeat by Rangers which took the hosts level on points with Premiership leaders Celtic.

Record goalscorer Helen Ward has joined the coaching staff of Wales’ women’s team. Former Newport manager James Rowberry has also been appointed to interim boss Jon Grey’s coaching staff for this month’s friendly with Republic of Ireland, following the shock departure of Gemma Grainger.

Former Swansea City striker Morgan Whittaker insists he doesn’t need the ancient Roman piazzas when he’s got the precincts of Plymouth. At least not yet. The Pilgrims striker plundered his 17th goal of the season – the only goal of the game at the home of his former club – to underline why Lazio made an £8m bid for the Championship’s top scorer three days before deadline day.

Josh Bowler has been told he needs to have more faith in his ability if he is to build on his stunning winner for Cardiff City at Watford. The advice was offered by Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut after on-loan winger Bowler proved the difference with the best goal Cardiff have scored this season Bowler held off one Watford player, cut inside another and sent a delightful curler beyond the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Ben Hamer and into the far corner.

Morgan Whittaker proved a point at Swansea City by helping Plymouth take all three away from home for the first time this season. The former Swans striker also showed why Plymouth were prepared to turn down a £8m bid from Lazio two days before the end of the transfer window. Whittaker – who left the Swans in a £1million move in July last year – scored a sublime 18th minute goal in a 1-0 Plymouth win that proved the difference between two mid-table clubs travelling in different directions.

David Turnbull has described Cardiff City as a “huge club” after leaving Celtic to join the Bluebirds in a deadline day deal worth around £2m. Cardiff confirmed the arrival of the Scottish international midfielder on a permanent deal from for an undisclosed fee, penning a contract until June 2027.

Erol Bulut insists new loan signing Famara Diédhiou can rediscover his goalscoring touch with Cardiff City in the Championship. The Bluebirds manager has made Diedhiou his second recruit of the January transfer window, even though the Senegal striker has only scored one goal in the past year for his Spanish club, Granada.

Luke Williams insisted he would take some encouragement from Swansea City’s latest defeat – even though it was their third in as many games during which they have conceded 11 goals. The Swans fell to a 3-1 defeat at Leicester City which leaves then 17th in the Championship, eight points above the relegation zone.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson admitted his team were handed a lesson by Blackburn Rovers after they followed the rest of Wales’ clubs in bowing out of the FA Cup. Wrexham lost 4-1 at Ewood Park, despite taking an early lead against the Championship club.

Graham Coughlan admitted he was contemplating a major upset after seeing his Newport County team equalise against Manchester United. United survived a massive FA Cup fright at Rodney Parade as the League Two minnows fought back to 2-2 after conceding twice inside the opening 13 minutes.

Everyone knows Sunday’s FA Cup clash between Newport County and Manchester United is one of the classic ‘David v Goliath’ ties of the fourth round. But when you hear former County boss Michael Flynn describe it as “the biggest game in the club’s history” then you realise the enormity of the occasion. Flynn knows all about the romance of the cup having led County to victories over Leeds United, Leicester City and Middlesbrough, earning a draw against Tottenham Hotspur, and facing Manchester City in the fifth round. 

Will Evans will try his utmost to embarrass Eric Ramsay on Sunday – 18 months after the Newport County striker was a guest at the Manchester United assistant manager’s wedding. Evans will be County’s main hope of goals and a creative spark that might ignite one of the great FA Cup shocks of all-time, although perhaps not as big a surprise for those United fans who have long since grown used to seeing their team lose at places they shouldn’t.

Newport County manager Graham Coughlan has warned Erik ten Hag there may be a bullet with the Manchester United manager’s name on it at Rodney Parade on Sunday evening. There are many more forgiving and welcoming venues in the FA Cup than the proud Welsh club who have made their League Two ground a giant-killing field in recent seasons, with victories over Leicester City, Leeds United and Middlesbrough as well as a draw against Tottenham.

Swansea City head coach Luke Williams admitted he got it “horribly wrong” with his approach after seeing his team demolished by Bournemouth in the FA Cup. The Swans crashed to a demoralising 5-0 defeat at the Cherries as the fourth round tie turned into a disastrous night that may have repercussions for the club’s form in the Championship.

Yannick Bolasie could play his final match for Swansea City when they club take on Premier League Bournemouth in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Thursday night. Bolasie’ short-term contract with the club expires this weekend and although head coach Luke Williams is keen to keep hold of the 34-year-old former Crystal Palace and Everton star, tight finances and other irons in the fire for Bolasie mean that may not happen.

Former Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins has pinpointed a stable financial position as his top priority at Newport County, having completed a majority takeover of the club. The 60-year-old has purchased 52 per cent of the club from the Supporters’ Trust after a new ownership model was approved in September.

Wales will kick off their 2024 fixtures with a friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. The game, which will take place at Shamrock Rovers’ Tallaght Stadium, will kick off at 7:30pm on Tuesday 27th February and start Wales’ preparations for the upcoming UEFA Women’s European 2025 qualifying campaign.

Alfie Tuck doesn’t just want to walk the walk on the pitch for Wales, he wants to talk the talk off it, too. The 17-year-old QPR midfielder is taking weekly Welsh lessons in a bid to immerse himself in the nation’s culture.

In the battle between master and apprentice, new Swansea City head coach Luke Williams – Russell Martin’s former assistant at the Swans – knows he still has some lessons to learn. Jamie Paterson scored for the Swans against Southampton and also struck the post but the home side still lost 3-1 to a dominant Saints.

Seb Palmer-Houlden got in the groove as Newport County warmed up for next week’s FA Cup visit of Manchester United with a hard-fought 1-0 win over 10-man Wrexham. In an all-Welsh battle at a packed Rodney Parade, the visitors had defender Will Boyle sent off for a wild challenge on Shane McLoughlin in the 18th minute and County used their numerical advantage to great effect.