Mark Hudson believes TV replays prove referee James Linington made a huge mistake that laid the ground for Cardiff City’s 3-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers. Caretaker Bluebirds manager Hudson was unimpressed by the decision of Linington to award QPR an early penalty and send off defender Jack Simpson. The controversial moment came just 18 minutes into the game when Simpson tangled with Sinclair Armstrong as the QPR forward surged into the penalty area.

Russell Martin saluted his Swansea City’s players’ courage and determination after they came from 2-0 down to beat Reading 3-2 to stay among the Championship pace-setters on Tuesday night. The Swans head coach was full of praise for his side who buried themselves in a deep hole, but managed to haul themselves out of it. It was a display of impressive character from a team that had lost 4-0 at Burnley just three days before.

Swansea City assistant coach Matt Gill insists no lasting damage has been done by the club’s 4-0 thrashing away to Burnley. The Swans return to action on Tuesday night at home to Reading, just three days after suffering their heaviest defeat of the season, a loss which has also cost them Joel Piroe for the next three matches. Piroe – the club’s leading scorer so far this season and last – will be missing after the club decided not to appeal his red card.

Merthyr Town’s reward for their 2-1 home win over Folkestone Invicta in the final FA Cup qualifying round last weekend is a trip to Buxton in the first-round proper next month. The Martyrs, ball No. 79 in the hat for the draw made at Alvechurch FC, were drawn to face the National League North side on the weekend of 5 November and will be gunning for another famous victory. You have to go back to 2005, when they lost 2-1 to Walsall, for the last time Merthyr had reached the first round.

Mark Hudson insists Cardiff City’s minds are on their midweek trip to Queens Park Rangers, rather than the looming derby at Swansea City Hudson suffered his first defeat in caretaker charge of the Bluebirds at the weekend – a 1-0 home defeat to bottom-placed club Coventry City. It leaves Cardiff back in 18th position, five points above the relegation zone but still only four adrift of the play-off places in a congested mid-table.

Perry Ng used to throw up before matches – but now he only feels sick if Cardiff City don’t win. There are no more sleepless nights before games, or vomiting in the dressing room ahead of kick-off, for the Bluebirds defender. When he was coming through the ranks at Crewe in League Two, Ng used to have nightmares about the giants he would have to face the next day, but those early years in the lower ranks toughened him up.

The champagne bottles may have long been emptied but Trethomas Bluebirds will be hoping the drops that soaked the boots of Levi Rees can work some more magic this weekend. Rees was the goalscoring hero for the Ardal League club last week when they knocked JD Cymru Premier club Haverfordwest out of the JD Welsh Cup, 2-1. It was a notable win for a club not short on ambition. Not only do the Ystrad Mynach-based outfit have desires to one day make it to the Cymru Premier themselves, but they aim to grow their fan-base as a community-serving club, just north of Caerphilly.

Gareth Bale has been told by World Cup chiefs to leave his “One Love” captain’s armband in the dressing room. Wales captain Bale and his England counterpart Harry Kane were both planning to wear the rainbow-coloured armbands in Qatar when they lead out their respective countries at the tournament. It was intended to send a message against discrimination of any kind at a host country which has repressive laws that make same-sex relationships a criminal offence.

Swansea City, Cardiff City and Newport County fans could be able to watch their teams perform live on their screens every Saturday afternoon within a couple of seasons. Lifting the Saturday 3pm blackout is one option the English Football League could consider in the sale of its next television and media rights. The league confirmed on Wednesday it had issued a Request For Proposal (RFP), inviting interested broadcasters and media companies to come forward and suggest new ways of presenting the league on television and streaming platforms from the 2024-25 season, when its current deal with Sky Sports expires.

By Paul Jones Gemma Grainger believes Wales will use the pain of their heart-breaking World Cup near miss to fuel a successful mission to reach the finals of the 2025 Euros. The head coach admitted Wales’ World Cup exit was “incredibly tough to take” after Switzerland’s last-gasp winner had prevented a penalty shoot-out in Zurich. […]

If you’re left wanting more after bingeing through Welcome to Wrexham, there is good news – another Wrexham documentary series will be hitting the screen very soon. S4C has a behind-the-scenes documentary series of its own which recounts the story of Wrexham’s stunning takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, through the eyes of the fans and the people of Wrexham. In a new three-part series which starts on Wednesday 12 October, Wrecsam…Clwb Ni! (Our Club!) will look at the impact of the takeover on the club, the town and the community.

Newport County have “reluctantly” decided to sack manager James Rowberry. The club’s board made their announcement on Monday, claiming they were grateful for the 37-year-old’s “passion” and commitment” but stating they will now begin searching for a successor. Rowberry’s team lost at home to bottom club Rochdale last weekend – a result that left Newport 18th in League Two and just three points above the relegation zone.

Sheyi Ojo believes Cardiff City are now proving they carry a variety of threats to opposition teams as they continue to climb the Championship table. Ojo came off the substitutes’ bench to score one of the Bluebirds’ three goals as they won 3-1 at Wigan to continue caretaker manager Mark Hudson’s impressive and unbeaten start in charge. Goals from Callum Robinson, Ojo and Ryan Wintle ensured Cardiff continued their recent resurgence, meaning Hudson’s side are now up to 10th in the Championship table and just three points off the play-offs.

Ollie Cooper is counting down the days to seeing his father Kevin again – and hopes to make it a bad day for his old man’s former club. Cooper scored Swansea City’s first goal in their 2-1 win at home to Sunderland at the weekend, a result which reinforced the Swans’ growing ascendancy as promotion candidates as well as the 22-year-old midfielder’s rapid personal progress as a vital cog in the white machine. It was a first league goal for the club and afterwards dad Kevin was soon on the phone from Malaysia to hear all about it.

Andy Rinomhota is hoping his new-found form at Cardiff City could eventually lead to him fulfilling his international dreams. The 25-year-old Leeds-born midfielder has quickly become a key cog in the new look Bluebirds side since joining from Reading in the summer. Having helped to deliver four points from the first two games in charge by interim boss Mark Hudson, Rinomhota is now hoping to add three more at Wigan on Saturday.

Joe Allen will not be risked by Swansea City simply to strengthen their chances of extending their hot winning streak to four matches. Swans head coach Russell Martin has insisted Wales midfielder Allen will not be rushed back after his recent absence through injury, which is good news for Wales ahead of next month’s World Cup. After picking up the maximum nine points with consecutive triumphs over Hull, West Brom and Watford, Martin is likely to give Allen another week to recover from his latest hamstring niggle rather than play him against Sunderland at home on Saturday.

A year ago James Rowberry’s life took a dramatic turn when he was offered the chance to manage his home town team, Newport County. As a first step into management following a successful stint as a first team coach at Cardiff City it seemed the perfect move. When his side delivered him a 3-1 win at Bristol Rovers on 23 October, 2021, in his first game in the dug-out, everything looked rosy.

Jess Fishlock has told her Wales teammates to be fearless and carefree when they go to Switzerland next week for another step on the road towards their World Cup dream. Fishlock has realised one ambition – scoring a spectacular World Cup play-off winner for Wales against Bosnia and Herzegovina in front of a record Cardiff crowd for a Wales women’s international of 15,200. The 35-year-old midfielder’s extra-time volley gave Wales a 1-0 victory at the Cardiff City Stadium as the Dragons advanced to a European play-off final in Switzerland on Tuesday.

By Paul Jones Head coach Gemma Grainger has welcomed the use of VAR for Wales Women’s World Cup play-off action. Wales host Bosnia and Herzegovina in Cardiff on Thursday, the first of three potential games needed to reach next summer’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand. Switzerland await the winners next Tuesday and, […]

By David Williams Ben Cabango has been described as “a warrior” and one of the best defenders in the Championship by his grateful Swansea City head coach Russell Martin. Cabango underlined his growing stature for the Swans with a commanding performance and winning goal as Martin’s side made it three victories on the spin with […]