South East Wales

Image source, Getty Images

The Stok Cae Ras will host Wales Under-19s next month as part of the build-up to next summer's 2026 Uefa Men's U19s European Championship which will be held in north Wales.

November's mini-tournament will see Craig Knight's Wales side face Germany, USA and Japan.

Matches will be played at several venues across the north, including Denbigh Town's Central Park and the Hops and Barley Community Stadium in Rhyl.

Wrexham will host Wales' game against the USA on Saturday, 15 November.

The Stok Cae Ras – the world's oldest international football stadium still hosting international matches – will be among the north Wales venues for next summer's European Championship finals.

Image source, PA Media

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson says a gruelling playing schedule meant he was forced into making a raft of changes to his starting side as they tumbled out of the Carabao Cup.

This Friday's home game against Championship leaders Coventry City (20:00 GMT) will be Wrexham's fifth game in 14 days.

For Tuesday night's last-16 tie with Cardiff City, Parkinson made seven changes from Saturday's 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough in the Championship.

He was without defender Lewis Brunt with injury and Callum Doyle through suspension, although Ben Sheaf and Ollie Rathbone passed late fitness calls.

That saw Nathan Broadhead start up front alongside Sam Smith in a mostly untested strike partnership, with key forward Kieffer Moore named on the bench.

"We made a lot of changes and we did that in a big game, but I've got to protect the squad as well," Parkinson said.

"I had to utilise the squad [against Cardiff]; Brunty picked up an injury at the weekend, we had Callum suspended... but we still should have done better."

With League One side Cardiff leading at half-time through Yousef Salech's opener, Parkinson was forced into a triple substitution at the break - with Moore, Josh Windass and Matty James replacing Smith, Broadhead and Ollie Rathbone.

The changes worked as Moore grabbed a swift equaliser, only for Cardiff to respond through Will Fish to seal a 2-1 victory.

"We're very frustrated in the manner of the defeat," Parkinson added.

"We spoke to the lads prior to the game about what to expect, but we just weren't at the levels we needed to be.

"Their pressing forced us into hurried passes which gave the ball away cheaply, and the other side we were five yards off them which made it too easy for them to play.

"It's something we've done better in recent weeks, I think everyone who has seen us play will have seen that.

"But [against Cardiff] the structure and the press and the work and the intensity of winning the ball back wasn't where it needed to be."

Image source, PA Media

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says the pressure is off Swansea City in tonight's Carabao Cup last-16 tie as they host Premier League powers Manchester City.

"It is. I think they've lost their last seven against Manchester City. I think in their last 13, they've lost 12, just one draw in the Premier League to show for, but I think it's a night for them to enjoy," Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

Pep Guardiola's side have won the EFL Cup in six of past 12 seasons, with Swansea famously claiming the trophy in 2013 when they upset Bradford City.

Man City are expected to field a much-changed side from the one that lost in the Premier League to Aston Villa last weekend.

Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference that: "The Carabao Cup has always been like that in the first stages. We have less injured [players this season] and we have players who need minutes, so the Carabao Cup is perfect for that."

He also hinted that goal machine Erling Haaland - who already has 11 in just nine league games this season - could be rested as they "don't need to risk him", with the Norwegian striker getting "a knock" at Villa Park.

While even a second-string Man City team will start as overwhelming favourites against their Championship hosts, Roberts says Swansea go into the game with their own centre forward in fine form

Zan Vipotnik scored a spectacular brace as the Swans beat Norwich City 2-1 on Saturday, taking the Slovenia striker's tally for the season to nine goals for club and country.

"You know, they've [Swansea] got a centre forward that's bang in form in Zan Vipotnik, two fantastic goals he scored against Norwich at the weekend," Roberts added.

"It's a tall order, but I'm sure it's a night that Swansea fans will really enjoy."

Image source, Huw Evans Agency

Yousef Salech says that reaching the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup will not distract Cardiff City from their season goal of making an instant return to the Championship.

The Danish forward opened the League One side's scoring in their 2-1 win at Wrexham on Tuesday night, making a statement against their Welsh rivals from the Championship.

The 23-year-old reacted quickest to tap in the ball from close range, after Omari Kellyman's shot was saved by Wrexham goalkeeper Callum Burton, but rebounded nicely for the forward as he followed up.

"It means a lot and to have a cup run is nice for the fans and the players as well," Salech said.

"We're working on a long-term goal about smashing the league and getting up, that's what we want, but it's nice to have something else to focus on and work on while doing the main goal."

Salech was delighted to have scored his sixth goal of the season, and his first in the Carabao Cup.

"I'm very pleased," he added. "Obviously as a striker when you see that rebound come to you it's like Christmas Day, a present in front of you that you just need to grab - so that was a nice feeling.

"I think we started well as well so it was nice to get the goal while we were pressing them and playing well the first 10-15 minutes."

After the highs of the EFL Cup, Cardiff turn their attention to the FA Cup with Saturday's first-round trip to League One rivals Peterborough United.

The two sides go into the FA Cup game in very different form, with The Posh rock-bottom of the league while the Bluebirds are third.

Cardiff will not return to League One action until 8 November when they travel to Blackpool, with their league schedule disrupted further as the following Saturday's home fixture with Huddersfield Town on 15 November being postponed due to anticipated international call-ups.

A new date for this fixture will be announced in due course.