Wales’ rugby players weren’t the only ones who made it four out of four at the weekend.

Swansea City looked far from a smooth-running machine just a month ago, but they have now won four matches on the bounce to rise to 12^th in the Championship after their 3-1 win at Plymouth Argyle.

A second away success continues a sharp turnaround in form for Swansea, who failed to win in their first seven Championship games under Michael Duff.

Striker Liam Cullen says: “I think we are showing we are starting to turn the corner. You are starting to see the sort of side we are and with four wins on the bounce we can go into the international break on a real high. To be where we are now from a few weeks ago shows the mentality and togetherness of the group.”

For Duff, the turnaround has been impressive as his critics were lining up when his team were struggling to adapt to his new methods.

Since losing the derby match to Cardiff City on September 19^th, the Swans have drawn with QPR and then beaten Sheffield Wednesday, Millwall, Norwich City and Plymouth.

Duff said: “We played on Wednesday and have had two away games this week so to get a nine-point week was really pleasing. We stayed calm at half-time, there was no panic.

“Some of the blocks were brilliant, some of the defending was really good. We talked about being good in both boxes and that is where we win the game ultimately.

“We gave ourselves the opportunity to get back in the game and scored three good goals.

 

While the Swans surge, Cardiff City have stalled, with one point taken from their last two games – the point coming in a 1-1 draw at home to Watford.

Erol Bulut has suggested his players have believed too much in the hype and the Turkish manager said: “Perhaps after four wins in a row we thought we were great, but we have to work, and today we didn’t work as a group.

“I am satisfied with the start of the season, but not with today. The first 35 minutes was good, but I don’t know what happened afterwards. We totally changed. I don’t know why, whether it was pressure or they were stressed. In the end we have to be happy with one point.”

 

It was another statement weekend for Wrexham, though, who ended a three-match stretch without a win by claiming a 1-0 victory at Crawley Town.

The victory lifted Wrexham into the League Two play-off places and in a very tight division, leaves them just two points adrift of the automatic promotion places.

Ollie Palmer scored the vital goal against his former club and the Dragons managed to hold on after Andy Cannon was shown a red card for a foul on Adam Campbell.

Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said: “It’s a huge win for us. They’re a decent side and have done well this season. There was a great togetherness about the group, and you could sense it.

“All I can say about the sending off is that the ref goes to pull a yellow card out of his pocket, and I’d like to ask him what changed his mind because the lad’s rolled on the floor, so theatrical.

“But in adversity the lads have dug really deep and that’s great for us.”

 

Newport County, however, have slipped down to 19^th place in League Two after a 2-1 home defeat to Harrogate Town.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the foot,” said Newport manager Graham Coughlan who watched his team go two goals down before Will Evans pulled a goal back. “We’re showing a naivety, showing our inexperience and it’s hard to take.”

 

In the women’s Genero Adran Premier, Cardiff City moved two points clear at the top after a 3-0 win at Wrexham.

Swansea City beat Pontypridd United, 2-1, while the New Saints won 5-0 against Barry Town.