Porthmadog target return to goalscoring form at St Asaph
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BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Wrexham's Palmer digs deep on 'emotional night'
Ollie Palmer has reflected on a "special" and "emotional" night that will rank highly in a Wrexham career that many believed was beat Hull City in an EFL Cup first-round thriller after substitute Palmer's two stoppage-time headers sent the tie into a penalty shootout, which the Dragons won 33, is in the final year of his contract at Wrexham and his substitute's appearance against Hull was his first competitive fixture since early February."Tonight was a special night for sure," Palmer told BBC Sport Wales."Bar the National League promotion and maybe one or two other big moments, I think this is probably top two, top three. "It was just an emotional night after missing games through February, March and April."Doing so much for the first two thirds of the season and then missing out in the last 16 games was obviously tough, but that's football."You've got to dig deep and you've got to do what you can to help the football club in any way."Wrexham had to dig deep after it seemed they were heading out of the competition – 3-1 down with the game into stoppage time when Palmer struck twice."It's something that we've always done at this football club," added Palmer, referencing games against Dover Athletic and Barnet at the Stok Cae Ras when Wrexham scored late goals."We've always had that never-die spirit and that comes from the community, that comes from the fan base and comes from everything that's inherited with this football club."We've got to expect the subs to make impacts, whether it's in the National League, League Two, League One or the Championship or cup competitions and it was that that happened tonight."It was unfortunate to go 3-1 down, but obviously then fight and dig deep and come back into the game like we've always done at the Racecourse, to draw the game and we were clinical for the penalties." Palmer converted one of Wrexham's five penalties in the shootout which secured their place in the second round of the has a year remaining on his current Wrexham deal, although he has fallen down the pecking order of attacking options in recent Palmer himself still believes he has a lot to offer in the Championship, especially with summer recruit Kieffer Moore currently out with an ankle injury."My game doesn't really change in terms of physicality and how we use big lads in our team," Palmer said."We've got many strings to the bow, but I think having a big lad and someone on the end of crosses, you know, is important."And I think in this league, there are centre halves that are there to be bullied."Kieffer Moore's great at doing that. He's definitely an experienced Championship player and he gets a lot of joy with his size and strength."It's the physicality which is my strength and I feel like I can impose that on centre-halves at any level."It's just a privilege to be a part of this football club."
Wales Online
2 hours ago
- Wales Online
Cardiff City turn transfer focus to incomings as rival boss says it felt like Bluebirds 'punched him in face'
Cardiff City turn transfer focus to incomings as rival boss says it felt like Bluebirds 'punched him in face' The latest Bluebirds news from Cardiff City Stadium Ian Holloway, Manager of Swindon Town, gestures to Brian Barry-Murphy, Manager of Cardiff City (Image: Getty Images) Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Wednesday, August 13. Cardiff turn focus to incomings After spending so much of this summer focusing on shipping players out and trimming the squad, Cardiff are now zeroing in on landing their targets. City have let 13 players leave so far this summer, with Jesper Daland in talks over a move away from the club, as revealed by head coach Brian Barry-Murphy last night. Given City have four senior goalkeepers currently in their squad, one suspects at least one of those is likely to leave, too. However, work continues behind the scenes with regards to incomings. Nothing is done just yet, however sources have told WalesOnline that deals for two targets on their radar are "promising". Barry-Murphy did not give a timeframe with regards to potential incomings, but the Bluebirds head coach insisted that he was confident of incomings before the end of the window. City's backline is in desperate need of bolstering, with a centre-half, left back and possibly even right back on any potential wish list. A winger is also thought to be a position of interest, too. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Article continues below Holloway blown away by 'sparkling' Cardiff Swindon Town boss Ian Holloway says he was blown away by Cardiff City and he felt like a boxer who had been repeatedly punched in the face after a blockbuster first half. City defeated Swindon 2-1, but really shone in the first half. Rubin Colwill netted a stunning free-kick after Cian Ashford had tapped home from point-blank range. Ashford should have wrapped it up before the break, too, but he hit the post after Callum Robinson played him through. The Robins came back strongly after the break and halved the deficit, however it was City who advanced through to round two of the Carabao Cup. Speaking to BBC Radio Wiltshire Sport after the match, former Premier League boss Holloway was stunned by the Bluebirds' play and was effusive in his praise of Barry-Murphy. "I was glad for the second half. And I was glad half-time came when it did. If I was a boxer, I don't think I'd have been punched so many times," he said. "With their shape, their structure, they changed it when we boxed them off. Massive credit to their manager and team to what they did, their patterns. "They changed it so well, we couldn't live with it, with the team I had out there." He added: "At half-time, if you were a gambler, you'd have bet on us being beaten four, five, maybe even six-nil. But we won the second half 1-0. "I was delighted with the second-half performance. "That was a hell of a learning curve for us, how well they played in the first half. Massive credit to Cardiff. On another day I'd like to play them again, but we've got to earn that right and get up. "I thought they were terrific first half, sparkling. We couldn't get near them." The former Blackpool boss believes Cardiff are packed with talent and thinks they are on the right track under Brian Barry-Murphy. Holloway added: "Well done to them. Absolutely brilliant way of playing. "That was an absolutely wonderful free-kick and it absolutely knocked the stuffing out of us. They were very unlucky not to score, although I thought they were offside. "Well done to Cardiff. I'm not taking anything away from them, it's a wonderful way of playing. "You don't expect that from a team who have just got relegated. So, well done to Brian and his team. They've got some severe talent." Colwill: We had to learn quickly after Port Vale disappointment Rubin Colwill said the players had to work hard and learn the lessons after a disappointing league outing against Port Vale last Thursday. The Bluebirds were held to a goalless stalemate away from home, but the performance arguably warranted a defeat. They bounced back and performed well against Swindon, though, albeit they are in a division below City, with Colwill netting again with a wonderful free-kick. 'I think we had a lot of things to take away from the game against Port Vale," he said "There's lots to learn, but we tried to put those things right tonight, the way we moved the ball, switching it and getting them moving, trying to create space so we can be better when we're trying to attack. So, there's lots to work on, lots to try and adjust and I thought we did that pretty well tonight. 'We come in every day, we learn and work hard. All you want as a footballer is to come in and see there's a plan of what to do and what we're working towards, and then it's up to you to put the work in and see if you can achieve that.' Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman believes the vice-captaincy will do Colwill a world of good this season and hopes the Wales international can start taking games "by the scruff of the neck" as he is beginning to show already. "There's a phrase, 'One swallow doesn't make a summer', and one good game doesn't make a player. But I loved his free-kick against Peterborough, it was great technique," Goodman told "We need more of that from him. Not necessarily the free kick, but the performance, because he's an unbelievable talent who has been unbelievably inconsistent in his short career so far. But he's 23 now and has over 150 appearances for Cardiff City. Article continues below "Brian Barry-Murphy gave the players a vote on who they wanted to be captain, and as the vice captain, they voted for Rubin Colwill. That's a massive vote of confidence and respect from your own team-mates. It could act as extra motivation that will make him feel a need to get Cardiff back to the Championship. But he needs to find that consistency, week in, week out. "At League One level, he has to take those games by the scruff of the neck and really influence them, just the way he did vs Peterborough." Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Pep Guardiola could be about to leave new Man City signing with serious concerns
James Trafford broke Championship records between the sticks for Burnley last season and returned to Manchester City hoping to be their long-term No.1 - now a formidable Italian problem could destroy his long-term plans James Trafford didn't walk into Manchester City this summer expecting to oust Ederson straight away. But he must have fancied his chances to get the No.1 shirt in the very near future from the Brazilian who is constantly linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium for the last 12 months. The Premier League club have yet to receive any contact for their current No.1. But Ederson's name is not often far from the Saudi Arabia conversation while Galatasaray are also interested in him. Yet now it has emerged that should a late bid come in for Ederson then City will swoop for PSG outcast Gianluigi Donnarumma - that's despite signing Trafford this summer. That's not good news for the England hopeful in a World Cup year. That's for sure. City brought in former player Trafford from Burnley in a £31m deal after they triggered a clause where they could match Newcastle's offer. They will pay £27m because they had a sell-on clause included in the deal when they sold Trafford to Burnley. Yet now the England international will find himself in a strange position should City sign another goalkeeper. There was a belief that Trafford would be understudy to 31-year-old Ederson this season before taking over next summer should the Brazilian move on. But it appears now City will be signing Donnarumma if they can find a buyer for their current No.1. Italy keeper Donnarumma is just 26 and at the peak of his powers. That would seem like bad news for Trafford, who at 22 will want to be playing. Donnarumma is available this summer after PSG boss Luis Enrique ousted him from his first-team squad despite his Champions League heroics last season. The French giants have spent over £40m on signing Lucas Chevalier from Lille as their new No.1 and Donnarumma has been exiled. The keeper has had an ambition to play in the Premier League and it appears now City would be his likeliest destination if he moves to England. Manchester United have been linked but they have currently no plans to enter into the race for his signature. Despite being booted out of the first-team squad, PSG will want around £30m to sell the Italian No.1 in the next couple of weeks. The keeper is understood to be stunned by PSG's actions. That's despite having just one year left on his current contract and no sign of agreeing a new deal for the last number of months. He was one of their star performers as they beat Liverpool, Arsenal and Inter Milan on their way to European glory last season. Those around him believe his stats are also much better than the replacement PSG have bought. That also means he wouldn't be coming to City to sit on the bench and where does that leave Trafford? Being second choice this season to the long-standing No.1 would be tolerable with the knowledge that Ederson is seemingly itching to get a move soon. But he should be seriously concerned if Pep Guardiola goes out and brings in a high-profile keeper just weeks after returning to the club he came through the academy at.
