Newport County have shown they can deal with the top teams in League Two, but now it is time to get down and dirty with one of the teams around them in the bottom half of the table as troubled Crawley Town head to Rodney Parade on Monday. The fact Crawley have sacked three managers this season, sold their best player and recently had one of their directors in the dug-out tells you all you need to know about their current state. They also haven’t won a game away from home this season. In contrast, Newport’s 0-0 draw against runaway leaders Leyton Orient provided further confirmation that Graham Coughlan has got his side fighting and functioning, but with only three wins in their last 10 league outings a victory is surely due.

Mark Hudson has urged Cardiff City players to “keep the faith” even though he appears unable to steer them away from relegation danger. The 1-0 defeat away to Blackburn Rovers on New Year’s Day means the Bluebirds are now without a win in seven games and remain only two points above the Championship drop zone. Since Hudson took over, he has managed just four victories in 16 matches with a squad that appears ill-equipped to pull clear to mid-table.

By Paul Jones  Russell Martin has spoken of his relief at pulling through the worst coaching period of his career. The Swansea City boss had gone eight matches without a victory until that sequence was broken in emphatic style with a 4-0 win over Watford on Friday night. The result – secured by two goals […]

Newport County’s final assignment of 2022 couldn’t be a tougher as they host the runaway leaders of League Two, Leyton Orient, at Rodney Parade on Friday night. The ‘Os’ have lost only twice in the league this season and currently sit seven points clear of second place Stevenage. Richie Wellens will bring with him a confident, competent and very much in-form side with him to Newport.

By David Williams Russell Martin has threatened to end his ‘Mr Nice Guy’ routine as he tries to find a way to halt Swansea City’s longest run without a win since they dropped out of the Premier League in 2018.  The 2-1 defeat at Reading in midweek meant the Swans slipped to 16th and have now gone eight games without a win. They […]

By Paul Jones Russell Martin is tired of sloppy performances, as he see his team drop down to 16th in the Championship, following an eight game winless streak. Andy Carroll’s third goal of the season put Paul Ince’s men ahead, and it might have been two within five minutes had Yakou Meite not mindlessly blazed […]

Nathan Jones has admitted he needs to turn things around quickly after his first Premier League home match as a manager ended in a disastrous 3-1 defeat for his club Southampton against Brighton. The Welshman watched his club slip to the bottom of the table after being outclassed by Brighton at St Mary’s. Having taken charge of Southampton just twice since his appointment on November 10 due to the break for the World Cup, Jones was hoping to oversee back-to-back wins after Tuesday’s narrow victory over Lincoln, but his players produced a disappointing performance on Boxing Day.

Russell Martin will be first in the queue at the January sales – searching for wingbacks to replace Ryan Manning and Joel Latibeaudiere. The Swansea City head coach is gearing up for transfer activity after both players rejected the latest offers of new contracts and appear destined to leave the club. At a time when Martin had hoped to add more fire-power to his front line to push for a play-off place, the decisions by Manning, 26, and the 22-year-old former Manchester City starlet Latibeaudiere, have forced Martin to alter his thinking .

Cardiff City have revealed that Rubin Colwill has taken part in fewer than half of their training sessions this season. The Wales midfielder’s progress has been beset by injuries, even though he made the World Cup squad for Qatar and came on as a substitute in the defeat to England. Colwill has actually managed 12 appearances for Cardiff this season, but 11 of those have been off the bench and his manager Mark Hudson has admitted there are concerns over the durability of the 20-year-old, despite his obvious talent.

The World Cup and the magic of Lionel Messi may have inspired people around the world, but in Wales there is one organisation hoping the tournament can genuinely help change lives. Street Football Wales use Pele’s “beautiful game” as way of doing something much more than just providing excitement on the field. Through football, the social inclusion charity build communities, enabling those who have been through tough times to restore self-confidence, friendships and a sense of belonging.

By Paul Jones Brennan Johnson proved once again that he is the man to lead Wales into a new era, following the team’s disappointing World Cup appearance in Qatar. The poor World Cup showing saw Wales drop down form 19th to 28th in the latest FIFA World Rankings, after picking up just one point in […]

By David Williams Southampton manager Nathan Jones hopes to see his early work rewarded in the Carabao Cup as he makes a belated bow at St Mary’s. Welshman Jones, was unveiled as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s successor just before the World Cup break, with the Rhondda native’s only game in charge to date being a 3-1 Premier […]

Russell Martin admitted he was left feeling conflicted by Swansea City’s performance at Coventry City – “proud” of their comeback in a 3-3 draw, but angry at elements within the first hour he branded “a disgrace.” The Swans head coach watched his team go 3-0 down at the CBS Arena and questioned their commitment levels. Jonathan Panzo headed home before second-half strikes from Jamie Allen and Viktor Gyokeres put Coventry in total control. But in the final 22 minutes, the visitors turned things around to claim a point through goals from Joel Piroe, Jay Fulton and Liam Cullen.

Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has urged people not to forget the “human side” of the Emiliano Sala dispute – whilst continuing to argue the club are right not to pay up. The club have been placed under a transfer embargo after failing to pay the first instalment of the fee owed to Ligue 1 club Nantes for Sala. Sala died in a plane crash in the English Channel as he travelled to Cardiff after signing for the club in £15 million deal in January 2019. The pilot of the flight, David Ibbotson, also died.

Cardiff City and Blackpool face a tougher survival battle this season than last, according to Tangerines boss Michael Appleton. The Bluebirds host Blackpool on Saturday in a relegation battle that is likely to see one or other – or even both – in the Championship relegation zone over the Christmas period. Mark Hudson’s Cardiff are currently in 20th position, but just a point above the relegation zone, while Blackpool are two points worse off and just one place off the bottom.

Russell Martin has revealed he has yet to open any talks about extending his deal as head coach at Swansea City. Martin has 20 months left on his contract after signing a three-year deal when he succeeded Steve Cooper in charge in August 2021. The 36-year-old has earned widespread admiration for the work he has done at the Swans, particularly their playing style, but has insisted his priority is nailing down new deals for some of his key players rather than his own future.

By David Williams A Nottingham Forest fan alleged to have been stamped on by former Swansea City striker Oli McBurnie has claimed he was singled out and attacked after telling the star: “You’re s*** at football, I’m better than you.” George Brinkley told Nottingham Magistrates’ Court he genuinely feared for his life after being put […]

By Gareth James Osian Roberts knew Morocco would make an impact at this World Cup – he just didn’t know it would be this huge. The Welshman who was a key part of the Wales set-up as assistant manager when Chris Coleman was in charge, spent three years as Morocco’s technical director before returning to […]

Russell Martin claimed Norwich City’s players apologised for leaving with all three points after their 1-0 victory. It was a strange revelation, given that the Canaries scored the only goal of the game and for the most part dealt quite comfortably with what the Swans could throw at them. Martin’s side had 65 per cent possession and attempted 17 shots, but as Spain have found to their cost in the World Cup, statistics – particularly those around possession and passing – do no not always equate to an ability to win matches or even score.

Cardiff City manager Mark Hudson has heaped praise on young striker Kion Etete after his role in the Bluebirds’ 2-2 draw at Stoke City. The 21-year-old – who moved to Cardiff from Cheltenham in the summer for £500,000 – came on as a second-half substitute when Hudson’ side were 2-1 down. Within two minutes, Callum Robson had scored the equaliser for Cardiff who resumed their Championship campaign by avoiding a third successive defeat.