The football season is like Cardiff buses. You wait all summer for a game and then two come within the space of a week.

After all four Welsh EFL clubs enjoyed, or endured, differing fortunes in the League Cup in midweek we are back to league action.

Sportin Wales takes a look at the four sides in the EFL as well as the Cymru Premier ahead of this weekend.

Championship Challenge

Following opening day home 0-2 defeat to Sunderland, Cardiff bounced back with a 2-0 win of their own against League One’s Bristol Rovers.

Defender Mark McGuinness, who is rumoured to be leaving the club scored the first, before Welsh international Rubin Colwill tapped home his side’s second in stoppage time.

On Saturday, they face one of the toughest tasks in the Championship as they take on Scott Parker’s Burnley side.

Burnley were very impressive in the first day of the season, winning 1-4 at fellow relegated side Luton.

Wales international Connor Roberts started the game having returned from his loan spell at Leeds, providing an assist for The Claret’s second.

In terms of changes, Cardiff manager Erol Bulut may be tempted with a more conservative approach, bringing in an extra defender in the form of McGuinness to adopt a back five, with Aaron Ramsey and Chris Willock forming an attacking trio with Callum Robinson.

Back in Wales, Swansea welcome Preston North End to the Swansea.com Stadium for their first home league match of the season. Like rivals Cardiff, the Swans bounced back from opening day defeat to Middlesborough with a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Gillingham.

Brazilian winger Ronald took his chance on Tuesday evening, opening the scoring before Liam Cullen and Azeem Abdulai also opened their accounts for the season.

With new striker Zan Vipotnik also vying for minutes, Luke Williams has plenty of decisions to make in the Swansea attack ahead of Saturday’s match.

Wrexham’s First Big Test

After such a positive start to the season, with a dramatic 3-2 win over Wycombe Wanderers on the first weekend of the campaign, Wrexham were comprehensively beaten 4-2 in the Carabao Cup by new rivals Sheffield United.

While the first half performance will have been encouraging for manager Phil Parkinson, the manner of the goals conceded while be a worry.

League Two stalwarts Max Cleworth, Eogan O’Connell, and Tom O’Connor all started the victory over Wycombe, but with minutes in the legs of new signings Lewis Brunt and Dan Scarr, they may come into contention for the trip to Bolton.

At the top of the pitch, talisman Paul Mullin is still missing through injury, with Jack Marriott and Ollie Palmer set to continue their strike partnership. Parkinson is not short on options in attack, with Steven Fletcher and Sam Dalby also able deputies.

This Bolton fixture represents the first test of Wrexham’s promotion credentials this season, with a potential victory over last season’s third placed side pushing Wrexham firmly into the conversation for the upper echelons of the league.

Newport Need a Win

After defeats in both of their opening matches of the season, newly-appointed head coach Nelson Jardim badly needs a win against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday to kick start his reign.

County were unlucky to fall to a late, Liam Dulson strike against Cheltenham Town last weekend after battled back from 2-0 down to level the game.

Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat to Leyton Orient was disappointing from a defensive perspective, with seven goals now conceded in two games.

A first goal for Newport for new signing Oliver Greaves against Cheltenham is a big positive, though, as the club look to move on from last season’s top scorer Will Evans.

Cymru Premier Continues At Pace

The Cymru Premier welcomes back The New Saints and Caernarfon Town to league action after their European travails. Reigning champs TNS travel to newly-promoted Flint Town on Friday night, while Caernarfon welcome Haverfordwest to The Oval.

Early leaders Newtown and Penybont face each other in the most eye-catching tie of the round, as Briton Ferry look to get off the mark against Bala Town, and Aberystwyth host Connah’s Quay.

Cardiff Met and Barry Town round off the slate of fixtures for the second round of the season.

Wales (sort of) Away

Elsewhere in the EFL, Ethan Ampadu, Joe Rodon, and Dan James look to end their poor start to the season with Leeds on a high tone, as they travel to the Hawthorns for a Saturday lunchtime match with West Brom.

After a 3-0 drubbing by Middleborough in the Carabao Cup, Daniel Farke will need the best from his Welsh charges to arrest the slide at Leeds.

Jay Dasilva, newly capped for Wales over the summer will be looking to lock down the left back position at Coventry after starting their 1-0 victory over Bristol in midweek, while Charlie Savage will be doing similar, having scored in the cup for Reading on Tuesday evening.

Josh Sheenan will be part of the Bolton side aiming to dampen Wrexham spirits on Sunday, while Lewis Koumas will be hoping that his excellent start at Stoke City can continue as they travel to Watford.

This Weekend’s Fixtures:

Friday

Bala Town – Briton Ferry 19:45

Cardiff MU – Barry 19:45

Flint – The New Saints 19:45

Penybont – Newtown 19:45

Aberystwyth – Connah’s Quay 20:00

Saturday

Burnley – Cardiff City 15:00

Swansea – Preston 15:00

Newport County – Doncaster 15:00

Sunday

Bolton Wanderers – Wrexham 15:00

Caernarfon – Haverfordwest 17:15

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