Huge Result For Cardiff And TNS Target Treble: Welsh Football Weekend Review

Rhodri Evans
Happy Monday reader! We hope you had a better time following Cardiff, Wrexham, or Newport than Sportin Wales did at the Principality Stadium…
Well, unless you’re a Jack! There were wins for the other three Welsh EFL clubs as well as plenty of Welsh Cup action in both the men’s and women’s editions. So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into it.
Meite’s Vital Winner Lifts Cardiff
Cardiff City won away from home for just the second time in 2025 as Yakou Meite’s 73rd minute winner kept the Bluebirds just above the relegation places.
Due to Derby County’s win over fellow strugglers Plymouth and Luton’s point at home to Middlesborough, Saturday’s victory was gained extra importance. Added to that was the identity of Cardiff’s match winner: Yakou Meite.
The Ivorian forward is a practicing Muslim and currently observing Ramadan, which means he has been fasting for the three weeks. Manager Omer Riza praised the striker’s resilience during this period.
“He’s been fasting so he’s played the game today without eating, energy was low but he showed great character,” said Riza.
“He’s not been in the team a lot as well so great resilience to get up and score that header.”
With just eight games left in the league, and only two home games in the next six, Cardiff will need to continue this mini revival on the road if they are to stay above the drop zone.

Swansea Uncertainty Continues As Relegation Threat Remains
How much an change in a week. After Swansea’s victory over Middlesborough last weekend, Alan Sheehan’s side were 12 points clear of the relegation zone with nine games to go. With eight games to go and a defeat to Burnley last Saturday, the Swans are now only six clear of the drop.
Due to Derby and Cardiff’s victories, the likes of Portsmouth, Swansea, and Oxford have all been dragged back into the relegation fight.
While Saturday’s result was not unexpected – plenty of Championship teams better than Swansea have be smothered by Burnley – the Swans need a result.
The uncertainty surrounding the Swansea.com Stadium continues, though. On Friday, the club announced that Andy Coleman will step down as chairman at the end of the season, while Sheehan is still unsure whether he will be in charge for the trip to Leeds after the international break.
With home matches against Derby and Plymouth in a five day stretch just after, Swansea can do their survival chance the world of good if they can pick up results in those matches. If the club can stabilise a little off the pitch, perhaps that will positively affect their chances on the pitch.

Wrexham Go Automatic And Win Wycombe Test
Wrexham boosted their chances of an automatic promotion place with a massive 0-1 victory at fellow promotion chaser Wycombe Wanderers.
Going into the match, the two side were level on points with Wycombe holding a game in hand. With Sam Smith’s 78th minute winner, Wrexham are now three points ahead of Saturday’s opponents with nine games left.
Phil Parkinson dedicated the result to the travelling Wrexham fans, offering his thoughts to the fan that had to be given emergency medical care, with the match halted for almost half an hour.
“Our thoughts are with him and his family,” Parkinson said.
“We’ve been told he’s in a stable condition and that’s the most important news. It’s terrible when something like that happens and football pales into insignificance.
“We spoke about it in the dressing room that there was going to be another 20 minutes to play. Could we be the team that started the best and do it for our supporters. That’s what we spoke about, and the lads certainly did that.”
Much Needed Victory For Exiles
Newport fans finally sleep easy as County’s 3-0 victory over fellow bottom-half side Harrogate Town put even the most pessimistic fans’ relegation fears to bed this weekend.
The Exiles are now 16 points clear of Morecombe in the relegation zone and, with nine games left, can look to next season safe in the knowledge that they will remain in League Two.
A particular positive for manager Nelson Jardim was Newport’s defensive effort. Having shipped five goals to Accrington Stanley on Tuesday, Jardim asked for a response from his side, and he got it.
Newport have relied on their home form this season, with their tally of 10 wins at Rodney Parade only bettered by Walsall, Bradford City, and AFC Wimbledon – the three sides in the automatic promotion places.

Cup Finals Set As TNS Crowned League Champs
The New Saints continued their treble charge over the weekend, as they booked their in the Welsh Cup final with a 5-0 drubbing of Cambrian United in the semi finals.
Having already won the Nathaniel MG Cup and confirmed the league over the weekend with Penybont’s draw with Cardiff Met, TNS are not out for revenge in Welsh Cup.
Connah’s Quay Nomads, who beat TNS in the final last year, stand in the way of a TNS treble and will look to deny the perennial champions.
In the Bute Energy Welsh Cup – the women’s edition – Cardiff City will face Wrexham in another repeat of last year’s final. Taking place at Rodney Parade on April 27th, the final pits the dominant force in Welsh women’s football – Cardiff – against the up-and-coming contenders – Wrexham.
Both finals look set to be classics!
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