It’s a bit of a nod to the sort of team Wales have been down the years that Craig Bellamy’s three game unbeaten introduction to the Wales manager’s job is the most successful start in the post in our history.
Well, now he’s stretched it to four with a hard fought, but deserved, win over Montenegro at Cardiff City Stadium tonight in their latest Nations League game. In many ways, it was like Bellamy’s first three matches in charge as a generally impressive first half was followed by a second period that was more of a struggle, but the most encouraging part of the night for me was that this was a long way short of the best team Wales can field and yet they were definitely the better of the two sides because for all of the increased share in the game that Montenegro enjoyed after the break, I can’t remember Karl Darlow in the Welsh goal having a save to make.
Darlow for Danny Ward was one of a slew of changes Bellamy made, some were forced, but most weren’t as the motivation in these early fixtures almost seems to as much about seeing as many of his squad in action as he can as it does about getting enough points to see us restored to the top tier of the Nations League with all of the benefits that can bring.
In defence, Ben Davies moved to left back with Ben Cabango coming in, while in a very makeshift midfield as Jordan James missed out with suspension, Josh Sheehan came into the team as its only specialist central midfielder. Only Harry Wilson survived out of the forward players from the draw in Iceland as David Brooks, Liam Cullen, Wes Burns and Mark Harris were all introduced with the last named being the lone striker.
It looked a strange mix on paper, but it provided a bit more evidence for those who argue that formations are, if not a thing of the past, a little outmoded today as it’s all about rotations and movement these days.
If you asked me to name the system we played, I’d say it was a kind of 4-1-4-1 with Sheehan the defensive midfielder and Brooks and Burns wide on the flanks, but captain Ben Davies often played a bit further forward to take him out of a flat back four and the nominal right back Neco Williams was often further forward than the dictates of orthodox full back play allow.
Although there were plenty in tonight’s starting line up who wouldn’t be there if Bellamy was selecting what he recognises as our strongest team, one advantage was that the likes of Sheehan, Cullen, Harris and Cabango have been playing most weeks this season for their clubs, so, although the second half decline was there tonight to a degree, it was not as pronounced as it had been in our two away games we’ve played so far.
Although I agreed with the nomination of Sheehan as Man of the Match on S4C, Wales’ best moments of the first half tended to come when Brooks and Wilson combined down the right with the latter being the most influential attacking player on the pitch.
Wilson’s driven cross was just missed by Harris and Burns arriving on the far post couldn’t direct his header on target. The Fulham man then sent Cullen in on goal with a delightful through ball in the inside right channel only for the Swansea player, who always scores against City, to lob just over.
Brooks tested Montenegro goalkeeper Igor Nikic with a couple of long range efforts that he was equal to, but he wasn’t reaching Wilson’s low shot from twenty yards if it had been about a yard to the left.
It was no real surprise that a penalty turned out be the way the deadlock was broken given Wales’ inability to cash in on the number of opportunities they had in the first half in particular.
The goal arrived around the thirty five minute mark after Wilson was brought down by Vladimir Jovovic. I say brought down, there was the lightest of contacts, but that’s all a forward needs to fall over these days and it was enough to persuade the ref Filip Glova to point to the spot.
Wilson himself took the penalty which easily found the net with a he aimed right and Nikic dived left and Montenegro were on their way to their sixth straight defeat.
The only time Wales looked in serious danger after that of losing their lead was when sub Andrija Radulovic cut in and hit a shot from twenty yards that flew back off the crossbar.
However, Montenegro didn’t build on this and, although they were able to have more possession and territory in the second period, it was still Wales who were having, and missing, the better chances.
Hopes had risen through the first half with news that Turkey had fallen a goal behind in Iceland, but, they were to fight back in impressive style to record a 4-2 win. Wales therefore look long shots to win the group, but they will go to Turkey next month knowing that if they could win their last two matches they would finish first.
At age group level, pride of place over the week of international fixtures has to go to the under 19s who followed up a 3-3 draw with Italy with a 4-3 victory in the second match between the teams – City’s Luey Giles captained the side and Ewan Griffiths started in goal, while Roman Kpakio, Dakari Mafico and Trey George all were on the subs bench.
At under 16 level, Wales ended as runners up to the Republic of Ireland in the Victory Shield after a lone goal (again coming from the penalty spot) proved enough to beat hosts Scotland.
