Russell Martin insists there is still much more to come from Swansea City after the head coach lavished more praise on match-winning pair Joel Piroe and Jamie Paterson. Both players scored for the second successive game as the Swans beat high-flying West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night to make it back-to-back victories in the Championship for the first time this season. The 2-1 victory – achieved after Martin’s side had fallen a goal down inside the opening minute – has lifted the club up to 15th place, four points off the play-off spots.

By Paul Jones Under-fire Cardiff City boss Mick McCarthy will be hoping to halt an alarming run of six straight Championship defeats, when his side travel to Craven Cottage to face third place Fulham this evening (Wednesday). This is Cardiff’s worst league return since 1985 and the fans are stunned that the veteran boss is yet to receive his marching orders. Former Cardiff players, Bobby Decordova-Reid and Harry Wilson now play their football at Fulham and could inflict further pain on their former club tonight.

Joel Piroe plans to add to his Welsh derby goal with another at home to West Brom on Wednesday night to provide more updates for his next chat with Ruud van Nistelrooy. The Swans’ young Dutch striker – who has already been compared to a rookie Van Nistelrooy – still has one of the greatest Premier League strikers of his generation on speed dial, even though they stopped working together directly when Piroe left PSV Eindhoven this summer. Former Manchester United star Van Nistelrooy is now a coach at the Dutch club where he made his name and took a hand in shaping Piroe’s progress.

Newly appointed Newport County manager James Rowberry could end up working alongside current caretaker boss Wayne Hatswell. County’s dramatic 2-2 draw at home to Carlisle on Tuesday night was the last match in charge for Hatswell, who stepped up after the resignation of Michael Flynn at the start of the month. Flynn’s former assistant is in talks about whether to stay on as Rowberry’s assistant after the Cardiff City  coach was confirmed as County’s new boss just before the game.

By Paul Jones Robbie Willmott has seen it all at Newport County during his two spells at the club and believes whoever is named to take charge of the club this week will inherit a group that is gaining an understanding of each other and building towards a bright future. The 31-year-old scored the opening […]

By Tom Prosser Welsh football star Jess Fishlock says “It’s Heart-breaking to see the abuse aimed at female footballers who are playing purely for their love of the game”- this has led to The Football Association of Wales and the Welsh Government joining forces to tackling online hate towards girls and women. “Trying to put someone down because of something they love, is not big, smart or funny,” explains Fishlock, who is Wales’ most capped footballer. “I always say that people should think about how the person receiving the abuse could be affected before sharing and I’m glad to have worked with my Cymru teammates and the FAW to further educate others on what is and isn’t acceptable online.” 

By Paul Jones Former Swansea star Jamal Lowe thanked Bristol City fans for their respect and solidarity in sending a message of support to Welsh international David Brooks. Surrounded by his Bournemouth teammates, Lowe held up the No.7 shirt of the absent Brooks after the scorer had just silenced the home support with a well-struck volley to give the visitors the lead.  It was a gesture that might have drawn abuse in a different context, but Brooks has revealed he is starting treatment for cancer and the reaction of the home fans was as dignified as their applause in the seventh minute, moments earlier. 

Jamie Paterson has thanked Russell Martin and Swansea City for rescuing his career – and his well-being – after he was dumped by Bristol City. The Swans’ midfielder, whose man-of-the-match performance in the 3-0 win over Cardiff City underlined his value to his new club, has revealed he was at his lowest ebb after leaving Ashton Gate this summer. The 29-year-old was shown the door and left without a club following an injury-hit final few months with the Robins.

Mick McCarthy has pledged to fight on as Cardiff City manager after Swansea inflicted a south Wales derby mauling and a sixth successive defeat on his side. Jamie Paterson, Joël Piroe and Jake Bidwell were on target as Swansea piled the pressure on the embattled McCarthy with a comfortable Championship victory. “I am bitterly disappointed,” said McCarthy, whose side are two places and three points above the relegation zone. “It’s difficult when you are on a run like we are. All of a sudden it doesn’t look cohesive and sometimes you get opened up.

By Tom Prosser Swansea City boss Russell Martin wants his side to the “dominant” team in Sunday’s South Wales derby against Cardiff and believes the make-up of the two teams is very different. “Every manager tries to find the best way to play for their team,” says Martin. “I’m not overly focused on the contrast of styles.

By Tom Prosser Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy admits a defeat to arch rivals Swansea on Sunday would only “add fuel to the fire” regarding his own future at the club after a spell of five consecutive league defeats. “If you think I’m under any pressure other than wanting to win the game on Sunday, then no, I’m not feeling that,” explains the 62-year-old. “I feel for the lads because they always give everything.

By Paul Jones Swansea City manager Russell Martin says the international break has been a big help to his squad with Ryan Bennett, Oliver Ntcham and Michael Obafemi all using the time to get back up to full fitness ahead of Sunday’s South Wales derby against Cardiff City. The trio have linked up with Russell Martin’s squad as preparations continue for Sunday’s derby fixture following the international week. Bennett and Obafemi have not featured in the last four matches, with their last outings coming in the 3-3 draw with Luton Town in the middle of September.

By Lucy Rees The FAW have announced Gemma Grainger’s squad to face Slovenia and Estonia in the next part of their 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign in a very different way as part of the lead up to the side’s 200th match. Back in September 1993, when some of the current squad weren’t […]

David Brooks has paid thanks to doctors and other medical staff at the Football Association of Wales for their role in detecting his cancer at an early stage. The 24-year-old Bournemouth and Wales forward withdrew from the most recent Wales squad because of illness and confirmed the significance of it on Wednesday in a statement on his social media channels. Brooks, who has won 21 Wales caps, is considered a key figure in the squad as a skillful and creative influence who the national management had hoped would soon rediscover the kind of form that made him a reported target for Manchester United before recent injury problems.

By Paul Jones Cardiff City striker Kieffer Moore has revealed he his going to change his style of play after becoming “super conscious” of getting booked when going for an aerial challenge, he is next in action for the Bluebirds in the South Wales derby on Sunday but will the fans see a different Moore in action. The 6ft 5in forward scored an early winner in Estonia on Monday to keep Wales in the hunt for a World Cup play-off place. But he later collected a second booking in qualification after contesting a high ball, meaning he will miss the Belarus game in Cardiff on November 13.

By Tom Prosser Championship referee James Linington has been confirmed as the referee for Sunday’s South Wales derby between Swansea and Cardiff. This will be Linington’s first South Wales derby but he has taken charge of both teams on many previous occasions. Cardiff have a terrific record with Linington as referee, having won 16 of their 19 matches with him in the middle.

Aaron Ramsey praised Wales’ resilience after keeping World Cup qualification “in our hands” with a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Estonia. Kieffer Moore settled a physical contest in Tallinn, prodding home from close range in the 12th minute after Ramsey saw his goal-bound header blocked on the line. Wales remain third in Group E, level on points with the Czech Republic who beat Belarus 2-0 in Kazan.

Robert Page has told his Wales players they need to be more ruthless if they are to fulfill their World Cup ambition. Wales face Estonia in Tallinn on Monday night, desperate to score the goals that will see them overtake the Czech Republic in the fight to secure a play-off spot in qualification for next year’s finals. Page’s side drew 2-2 with the Czechs in Prague on Friday, so still trail their rivals on goal difference, even though they have a game in hand.

Aaron Ramey has leapt to the defence of teammate Danny Ward after Wales earned a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic in Friday’s World Cup qualifier. Wales fell 2-1 behind as goalkeeper Ward failed to control a back-pass and allowed the ball to go into his own net, but Daniel James scored a superb second-half equaliser – superbly crafted by substitute Harry Wilson – to earn a deserved share of the spoils. Ramsey, who netted Wales’ first strike of the night, heaped praise on Ward while also insisting that his team had secured a “great” result in in Group E.

Without injured Gareth Bale, Welsh hopes of goals in the Czech Republic on Friday night may well rest on the shoulders of Kieffer Moore. The Cardiff City striker has hardly enjoyed a prolific start to the season but Wales manager Rob Page insists he has kept faith, as he tells Graham Thomas. Kieffer Moore has been backed to rediscover his goalscoring touch by helping Wales move a step nearer World Cup qualification on Friday night. The Cardiff City striker has endured a lean season so far, with just one goal in 13 matches for his club following his 24 goals for club and country last season.