Mid Wales

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

Image source, Wrexham AFC

Wrexham have announced that initial work on the new Kop Stand at the Stok Cae Ras will begin later this month.

The club have appointed McLaren Construction Midlands and North under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement for the work.

Work on the new stand was originally due to begin in 2023 but was delayed because of what the club called "additional complications".

Revised designs for the new 5,500-capacity Kop Stand were presented to Wrexham County Borough Council earlier this year, which were subsequently approved.

In July, the club submitted a further planning application for the installation of up to 2,250 further seats in the new stand.

That would take the potential capacity to 7,750 and take the overall capacity of the Stok Cae Ras to just over 18,000.

The new stand, along with other works planned at the stadium, will make Wrexham's ground fully compliant with Uefa category 4 stadium standards.

The work at the Stok Cae Ras, announced as one of the host venues for next summer's Uefa European Under-19 men's finals, is scheduled to be completed during the 2026-27 season.

Wrexham CEO Michael Williamson said: "The new Kop Stand will be the heart of the reimagined stadium - increasing capacity, enhancing the experience for fans, and anchoring our place in our home city and as part of the wider Gateway Partnership regeneration plans."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy praised Cardiff City's character as they responded to their first defeat of the season by beating Premier League side Burnley in the Carabao Cup.

Tuesday's 2-1 victory at Turf Moor followed the Bluebirds' 3-1 League One loss at home to Bradford City on Saturday.

Cardiff can now look forward to a first fourth-round tie since 2012, when they went on to reach the final at Wembley only to be beaten by Liverpool.

"It means a lot to us to play the way we did and bounce back from what was undoubtedly a disappointing day for us on Saturday," Barry-Murphy told BBC Sport Wales.

"It means a lot in terms of how we want to play. I think when you come to play a team in the Premier League, you've got two choices: you can either step back and hope for the best or try and take your destiny into your own hands.

"We were very aggressive in the way we played the game, and the lads were on the front foot right from the first whistle."

Cardiff were well worth their win over Burnley, leading 2-0 at half-time and creating chances to extend their lead after conceding in the second half.

Their Premier League opponents searched desperately for a late equaliser but the Bluebirds defended resolutely.

"I think you have to show character all the time in sport as in life," said Barry-Murphy.

"There will have been question marks in the players' minds, as there would have been in our supporters' minds.

"But for the supporters to come here on a Tuesday night, this length of a journey and probably do the same distance on Saturday [for the League One trip to Wigan Athletic], is testament to them. We wanted to reward that and give them a performance to enjoy."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Cardiff City will discover their Carabao Cup fourth-round opponents when the draw is made at around 22:00 BST on Wednesday.

The League One side booked their place in the last 16 with an impressive 2-1 win at Premier League Burnley on Tuesday.

Cardiff can look forward to a first fourth-round tie since 2012, when they went on to reach the final at Wembley only to be beaten by Liverpool.

Fellow Welsh sides Wrexham and Swansea City will join the Bluebirds in the draw, which takes place after the final third-round ties are played on Wednesday.

This is the first time in League Cup history that three Welsh clubs have reached the fourth round.

Fourth-round ties will be played in the week commencing Monday, 27 October.

Asked who he would like to face, Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said: "A lot of my wife's family are Arsenal fans and hoping for that but I'm not bothered."

On the prospect of facing his former club Manchester City and their boss Pep Guardiola, Barry-Murphy added: "I think he's got bigger priorities but it would be good to see him. He's done a lot for me so I'll always be grateful.

"A home tie would be nice."