Cardiff City continued their poor start to the season with a 0-2 defeat at home to Middlesborough.

Cardiff started the brighter of the two sides, but after Aaron Ramsey hit the post, Matt Clarke heading Boro into the lead from a corner against the run of play.

A Ramsey own goal sealed the win for the visitors, eight minutes from time, leaving Cardiff bottom of the Championship for another week.

Cardiff’s only goal of the Championship season so far came from Callum Robinson’s strike in the South Wales derby, with the likes of Chris Willock, Yakou Méïté, and Wilfried Kanga all underperforming in front of goal.

With Rubin Colwill, Anwar El Ghazi, and Robinson waiting in the wings, and pressure mounting on Erol Bulut, the Turkish manager has vowed to make changes in search for a first league win of the season.

“There will be changes for sure after the international break and everyone has to accept it,” he said.

“Maybe we have to speak now about statistics of individual players. We don’t have consistency.”

Exiles Continue Their Excellent Run

Newport County continued their excellent winning run in League Two, beating Morecombe 0-1 on Saturday afternoon.

Aaron Wildig, a former Morecombe man, came back to haunt his old club as he pounced on goalkeeper Stuart Moore’s error to slot home the winning goal in the ninth minute.

After back-to-back losses in the league and League Cup, County have now won three league matches in a row and new head coach Nelson Jardim is starting to become a real fans favourite.

17 new signings and the departure of last season’s top scorer Will Evans put many Exiles fans’ guard up ahead of the new season, but the team look well drilled and confident.

“We know that (run of wins) is the result of what we’ve been doing on the training ground,” Jardim said.

“The boys have been great, they’ve been putting in really hard work every day and this is just the result of that.

“I think we can all see everything is coming together now and hopefully we can keep going, but we know there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Swansea Fall to Narrow Baggies Defeat

Swansea followed up their slightly disappointing derby draw with an all together more agonising defeat to West Brom at the Hawthorns.

Jayson Molumby’s strike right on half time was the only thing to separate the sides after West Brom dominated the first half, and the Swans the second.

With Liam Cullen out injured, Zan Vipotnik was given a chance up front and struggled despite opening his account for the season against Preston North End.

With the international break coming up, manager Luke Williams will be hoping that some time on the training ground will kick his side back into gear after a week of poor results.

Wrexham brush aside Posh with ease

First half goals from Jack Marriott and Max Cleworth sealed a third league of the season for Wrexham, leaving them second in League One.

Marriott capped off a fine move assisted with a delightful touch from George Dobson, before Cleworth nodded in Tom O’Connor’s in-swinging corner to confirm the result before halfway.

With Paul Mullin still building fitness, the form of Marriott and strike partner Ollie Palmer has been key for Wrexham, something manager Phil Parkinson was keen to point out.

“Mulls [Paul Mullin] isn’t quite ready yet, he’s getting there, that’s the best he’s felt when he came on today, I felt he was so sharp,” said Parkinson.

“Jack and Ollie [Palmer] have got the shirts at the moment, the other players have got to wrestle them away from them.

“It was a real quality goal, great movement from Jack and a good finish.

“I keep saying to the front two, what we’re pleased with at the moment is their work for the team, and key moments come on the back of that, and that’s why we’re winning games at the start of the season.”

A Flurry of goals in the Cymru Premier

There were 20 goals scored in five games across the Cymru Premier as Penybont ended the weekend as the big winners.

The South Walian side beat fellow fast starters Bala Town 1-2 on Saturday to go top, albeit on goal difference. Wins for Cardiff Met – over Caernarfon Town – and Haverfordwest – over Newtown – put them joint with Penybont at the top of the table on 11 points.

Newcomers Briton Ferry and Flint Town are still searching for their first points of the season after losing to Connah’s Quay and Barry Town respectively.

Flint looked to be on their way to a first win of the season, going into half time 0-2 up, before Barry rallied and came back to win.

Briton Ferry took the lead as well, before conceding five to Cannah’s Quay.

TNS, who will travel to Florence for matchday one of the Europa Conference League in October, will play their first league game since August 16th on Tuesday evening, when Aberystwyth visit Park Hall.

Results

Friday

Haverfordwest County 3-0 Newtown

Saturday

Bala Town 1-2 Penybont

Barry Town United 3-2 Flint Town United

Briton Ferry 3-2 Flint Town United

Caernarfon Town 1-2 Cardiff Met

Cardiff City 0-2 Middlesborough

West Brom 1-0 Swansea City

Peterborough 0-2 Wrexham

Morecombe 0-1 Newport County

---

If you want to know read more pieces from Sportin Wales, why not read to our monthly magazine here or subscribe to the magazine and newsletter at https://sportin.wales/subscribe/.

You can also keep track of our pieces on our socials at @Sportin_Wales on X, Sportin Wales on Instagram and Facebook.