By Rob Cole Michael Flynn has vowed to axe players from his Newport County side due to host Walsall on Saturday after being angered by the manner of their home to defeat to Northampton. The County manager was furious with his side’s performance in Tuesday night’s 1-0 loss and warned heads will roll after they […]

Russell Martin insists he is under no pressure to get Swansea City promoted this season – but next season will be different. The Swansea City head coach – whose team host Millwall tonight – is still looking for his first home victory of the Championship campaign. The Swans have so far won just one game out of their first six and are languishing in 20th place in the table, above the relegation zone only on goal difference. They have also only scored four times in those half a dozen matches.

By Tom Prosser Gareth Bale has reportedly suffered a long-term hamstring injury which would comes as a crushing blow to both Wales and Bale who was set to win his 100th cap against the Czech Republic next month. According to Marca, the severity of the damage which the Welshman suffered was confirmed after undergoing tests in recent days. Robert Page’s men will be hoping that his injury is not as serious as first thought as Bale will have a key role to play if Wales are to qualify for their first World Cup since 1958.

Cardiff City hero Rubin Colwill has already come from nowhere this season, according to manager Mick McCarthy – but still has far to travel. Colwill came off the bench to score twice as the Bluebirds came from behind to win 2-1 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, a result that lifted them to eighth in the Championship table It was further evidence of the teenager’s meteoric rise in 2021, although McCarthy admitted it looked less promising for the 19-year-old when the Yorkshireman first arrived to take chare at the start of the year.

Sean Morrison wants Kieffer Moore’s goals to power Cardiff City’s promotion charge – and inspire the club’s youngsters in the seasons ahead. Moore will be Cardiff’s primary weapon when they visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, with the Wales striker having served out the quarantine imposed on him during international duty after he was judged a close contact of a Covid case. Bluebirds skipper Morrison got his first real glimpse of Moore’s scoring power when he hammered in two goals at Forest last season to earn his new club a big away win.

Russell Martin has promised worried Swansea City fans their lowly position in the Championship will not be the one they occupy at the end of the season. The Swans had a to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Hull City on Saturday – a result which leaves them with just a single victory from their opening six matches and in 21st place, one point and one place above the relegation zone. It is early days in the campaign but the Swans – who lost both Andre Ayew and Jamal Lowe in the transfer window – have only scored four goals in those half dozen matches, the joint lowest total in the Championship.

Mick McCarthy regards Chris Hughton as a mate, but there will be no old pal’s act when the pair meet at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Instead, Cardiff City manager McCarthy hopes to push Hughton nearer to the exit door as Forest boss, even though the Bluebirds boss thinks Forest would be mad to push their man through. The pair played together for the Republic of Ireland before going their separate ways as managers.

Russell Martin insists Swansea City’s players are responding to his new regime – on and off the training field. The Swans head coach believes the 12-day break during the international window has enabled him to firmly establish the new methods that were hurriedly brought on board when he was appointed on the eve of the new season. They include making sure the players are fitter, better conditioned, and more open to “honest conversations” in more regular meetings.

By Tom Prosser Newport County boss Michael Flynn believes his side will see benefits both on and off the pitch due to the new Friday evening initiative which sees the Exiles travel to Harrogate this evening. In the coming months, County will see a further three away games moved from the traditional Saturday afternoon slot. This idea is based around saving League Two clubs from having to pay for hotels as they now have the full day to travel to their away fixtures.

There was no Bale-out this time for Wales, but the captain still insists believes World Cup qualification is achievable even though front door entry to the tournament now looks highly unlikely. After being held at home, 0-0, by Estonia on Wednesday – an outcome Gareth Bale himself had flagged up as a possibility if his team were not spot on – Wales lost ground in the race for automatic qualification as Group E leaders Belgium were beating Belarus 1-0 in Kazan. Belgium are now nine points clear of Wales, who have two games in hand and are more likely involved in a battle for second place with the Czech Republic.

By Paul Jones Wales manager Gemma Grainger has given a first call-up to Leicester’s Hannah Cain ahead of their opening World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Estonia. Grainger has a full-strength squad available and will be hoping the proven experience of Jess Fishlock, Sophie Ingle, Natasha Harding and Helen Ward will help to fire Wales to victory as they begin their quest to reach the World Cup. Cain, who is 22-years old, will be a fresh face in the senior squad, having last been involved in the Cymru setup in 2014 when she scored twice against Northern Ireland for the U17s.

By Paul Jones Newport County AFC is rolling back the years with the launch of a Goldie Lookin’ Chain-inspired third shirt. Way back in the 2004/05 season, we teamed up with the legendary hometown group to produce one of the most iconic and collectable football jerseys of all time. The Exiles and Goldie Lookin’ Chain want to celebrate Newport’s unique heritage and culture.

Gareth Bale has warned his Wales teammates not to risk their World Cup qualification bid by taking Estonia lightly on Wednesday night. The Wales captain insists his team are focused on upsetting Belgium and winning their qualifying group. Belgium, the world’s number one ranked team, lead the way in Group E with 13 points from five games and have so far scored 20 goals in qualification.

By Paul Jones Dan James’ Euro 2020 experience has made him all the more determined to fire Wales to next years World Cup in Qatar.  Gareth Bale’s dramatic stoppage-time hat-trick goal sealed a thrilling 3-2 qualifying win over Belarus in Kazan on Sunday, keeping hopes of Qatar 2022 qualification on track. Robert Page’s side will move second if they beat the so far pointless Estonia in Cardiff on Wednesday.

By Paul Jones  Former Swansea City manager Roberto Martinez claimed his Belgium side did everything expected of them as they opened up a six-point lead – and moved seven clear of Wales – at the top of World Cup qualifying Group E.  Romelu Lukaku marked his 100th international with an early goal which sparked a 3-0 win against the Czech Republic in Brussels.  The victory moved the Belgians on to 13 points from five games, six points clear of the Czech Republic, who have played the same number of matches, and seven clear of Wales who have two games in hand. 

Gareth Bale praised Wales for overcoming a stack of awkward hurdles on their way to a vital 3-2 comeback victory in their World Cup qualification tie against Belarus. Bale ended his two-year Wales scoring drought as his hat-trick secured a thrilling win in Kazan. The Real Madrid star had not added to his record 33 goals since scoring against Croatia in October 2019 – a run of 16 games. He’s now been involved in all five of Wales’ goals in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup (three goals, two assists).

Gareth Bale insists he will play for Wales and Real Madrid until next summer – and that any further in the future is not worth discussing. Bale spent the end of last season and Wales’ Euro 2020 campaign refusing to go into detail on both his club future and suggestions he was poised to quit international football. But on the eve of a crucial World Cup qualifier with Belarus, the 32-year-old put his cards on the table.

Wales resume their World Cup qualifying campaign on Sunday when they face Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan. It’s another long haul trip for Rob Page’s squad who have had to get used to doing it the hard way in recent months. But few of their players can match the miles on the clock being run up by Dylan Levitt, as Graham Thomas reports. Dylan Levitt is hopeful the substantial air miles he is clocking up can qualify him for a place at the World Cup finals with Wales next summer. The Manchester United midfielder is pressing for a starting spot for his country in their vital qualifier against Belarus on Sunday, a match that is live on S4C.

By Paul Jones The Football Association of Wales have made it clear that there was no dig at UEFA after their players did not wear the “Respect” sleeve patches during Wednesday night’s friendly in Finland. Wales and UEFA have been at loggerheads since European football’s governing body decided to stage Sunday’s 2022 World Cup qualifier with Belarus in the Russian city of Kazan. Interim boss Robert Page has described going to Russia as a “logistical nightmare”.

By Tom Prosser It has been a difficult week for Newport County who are now without seven players due to Covid protocols ahead of their clash with Leyton Orient at Rodney Parade on Saturday.  On top of that, County boss Michael Flynn has had to deal with availability issues surrounding the use of their usual training pitch at Spytty Park. Four of the Exiles’ squad have tested positive for Covid and a further three will miss the League Two fixture at Rodney Parade after being named as close contacts.