Welsh football fans were treated to another dramatic weekend of action, as Cardiff finally pulled the trigger on Erol Bulut’s tenure, Swansea and Wrexham won, and Newport continued their downturn in form.

All that, along with a full slate of Adran Premier and Cymru Premier fixtures, means that this edition of the Sportin Wales weekly football round-up is a packed one:

Bulut sacked after limp Leeds showing

Cardiff manager Erol Bulut was sacked on Sunday, a day after his side fell to a dismal 2-0 defeat at home to Leeds United.

Following a good showing in his first season, Bulut was handed a new one-year contract in the summer, but seven game without a win at the start of the season has put an end to the Turkish manager’s time in charge at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The match itself started in emotional circumstances, with the club remembering and celebrating the life of their former player Sol Bamba, whose death at just 39 came as a shock to many.

Cardiff’s task on the day was made ultimately insurmountable following Joel Bagan’s red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Goals either side of halftime from Largie Ramazani and former Swansea striker Joel Piroe meant that the three points were taken back to Yorkshire with the visitors.

This latest result leaves Cardiff at the bottom of the Championship, having picked up just one point in six games: a draw in the South Wales derby.

It is their worst start to a league campaign in 94 years and would spell the end of Bulut’s time in charge. First team coach Omer Riza has been confirmed as the interim manager while the search begins for a replacement for Bulut.

Steven Schumacher is DragonBet favourite to replace Bulut

Perhaps surprisingly, former Newport County manager James Rowberry is the favourite to take over at the Cardiff City Stadium according to DragonBet’s latest odds.

Priced at 6/1, Rowberry recently took a job as assistant manager to Craig Bellamy at Wales.

Steven Schumacher, who successfully coached Plymouth Argyle, winning League One in the 2022-23 season, was dismissed by Stoke last week following their own poor start to the Championship season. He is priced at 7/1.

Rochdale boss Brian Barry-Murphy is priced at 10/1 to be the next Cardiff head coach. Cardiff U23s coach Darren Purse is 11/1, while foreign coaches Óscar García (16/1) and Vítor Campelos (14/1) are also in the frame.

Former Wales bosses Rob Page and Chris Coleman are 20/1 and 25/1 respectively, while current Cardiff players Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey are 40/1 and 33/1.

Swansea Continue Their Good Form

Back to the football and Swansea lifted themselves in seventh in the Championship table with a confident 2-1 victory at Coventry.

Goals from Wales international Liam Cullen and Ollie Cooper in the first half gave the Swans a 2-0 lead, before Ronald’s unfortunate own-goal pegged them back before the break.

Lawrence Vigouroux was called into action after halftime, but the visitors held on for a third league win of the season.

Luke Williams’ side host Bristol City next week as they look to break into the play-off places at this early stage of the season.

Wrexham Go Into Top Spot With Victory

Max Cleworth stole the show as Wrexham beat Crawley Town 2-1 to go top of League One following a Monday night defeat at Birmingham City.

Cleworth’s cross was fired home by Elliot Lee in the first half before he won the game with 11 minutes to go, heading in George Dobson’s cross.

The defender’s two interventions came either side of Junior Quitirna’s emphatic equaliser for Crawley, who were unlucky to not get something from the match.

Town – whose tally of 73 home league goals since the start of the 2023-24 season is the most of any side across England’s top four divisions – stay ahead of Birmingham City on goal difference.

Newport Lose To Top Of The Table Barrow

Newport head coach Nelson Jardim said that Barrow “showed why they are the top of the league” as his side lost 2-0 on Saturday.

County ‘keeper Nick Townsend’s error gifted Barrow the opening goal through Elliot Newby, before former Wrexham defender Theo Vassell made sure of victory 10 minutes from time, heading home a Ben Jackson cross.

Following three consecutive league wins, County have now lost three in a row and fall into the bottom half of League Two.

Cardiff City Edge Met In Adran Derby

City beat Met 3-1 in the Cardiff derby on Sunday, with goals from Fiona Barry and a Ffion Price brace. Former City player India Shanahan had put Met into a first half lead, but the reigning champions rallied well to take the victory.

Elsewhere, there were big wins for TNS over Aberystwyth (6-1) and Briton Ferry against Wrexham (3-0), while Swansea were held to a goalless draw by Barry Town United.

The New Saints look in ominous early form, having scored 11 goals in their first two matches.

Penybont Lay Down Early Season Marker

League leaders beat The New Saints 2-1 on Friday night to hand the reigning champions their first defeat of the season and perhaps forecast a tighter title race than last season.

TNS, who have played three games less than the other Cymru Premier teams due to European commitments, had a 100% record before this match, while Penybont remain unbeaten from eight games and three points clear of Cardiff Met at the top.

Met beat Connah’s Quay 2-1 on Saturday, thanks to goals from Eliot Evans and Billy Paynter while there was a trio of draws and a victory for Haverfordwest over Aberystwyth (0-3).

Results:

Friday

Penybont 2-1 The New Saints

Bala Town 2-2 Newtown

Aberystwyth Town 0-3 Haverfordwest County

Saturday

Cardiff Met 2-1 Connah’s Quay

Briton Ferry Llansawel 1-1 Flint Town United

Barry Town United 1-1 Caernarfon Town

Cardiff City 0-2 Leeds United

Coventry City 1-2 Swansea City

Wrexham 2-1 Crawley Town

Barrow 2-0 Newport County

Sunday

Cardiff City 3-1 Cardiff Met

The New Saints 6-1 Aberystwyth Town

Briton Ferry Llansawel 3-0 Wrexham

Swansea City 0-0 Barry Town United

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