Yet another depressing Welsh campaign at least saw the last home game produce entertainment for the meagre 14,505 crowd ..... and 2.000+ of them were Russian.
Wales battled hard, showed quality, flair and imagination at times and certainly had the Russians rattled but 2 late goals - just when Wales were in the ascendency and looking most likely winners - settled it.
It left fans having to take the positive of an encouraging display, an undeserved score (and maybe result) against the Euro'2008 semi-finalists and hope for the future ... only problem is, we seem to have said this after every campaign all of my life. At least I'll be entitled to a bus passes and OAP ticket prices when we finally have our day!
John Toshack doesn't endear himself to the public for so many reasons but one had to be his negative tactics. 4-5-1 again - with a little man who can't hold the ball in Bellamy up front - even though it was a 'must win' with 3 centre backs and a deep midfield that, at times, made us look 9-0-1!
Jason Koumas is the latest player to retire on the eve of a game ... this is now a regular event ... but saying he wanted to prolong his Premiership life at just 29 is a touch ridiculous. One thing's for sure - Koumas, for all his brilliance, has never seemed committed to the cause. Promising youngsters Jack Collison and Simon Church both missed out to, coincidentally, bury their fathers but it was still an ultra youthful side - Hennessey, Gunter, Collins, Williams, Gabbidon, Ricketts, Edwards, Stock, Ramsey, Ledley, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Myhill, Eardley, Cotterill, Morgan, Evans, Earnshaw.
The opening spell was emphatically Wales' - corners, shots, saves, near misses and some superb play. However Russia turned it around and managed to get around or behind us into double figures by the interval as well as a single goal lead as Arshavin threaded a precision pass to one of their many Ov's - Semsov - to fire home.
However it was a different story after the break as Wales hit back and pressured the visitors into panic. Ginge - James Collins - superbly flicked home and equaliser on 55 at the near post and Ramsey, Bellamy, Edwards and Gunter all went close. The Russians were hanging on, surviving a penalty appeal and having to overhead kick on the line. There was niggle with on and off the ball altercations but Wales stood firm.
It was all highly encouraging until 19 minutes from time, Russia got a soft and silly free-kick, the Welsh compounding that by ju,ping over a mishit edge of area hit that gave Hennessey no chance.
Wales tried to respond but Russia were in no mood to let it slip again and sealed their win with sub Pavyunchencko firing home in added time.
Wales are set to finish and be stranded in 4th spot ... it's not good.
Wales battled hard, showed quality, flair and imagination at times and certainly had the Russians rattled but 2 late goals - just when Wales were in the ascendency and looking most likely winners - settled it.
It left fans having to take the positive of an encouraging display, an undeserved score (and maybe result) against the Euro'2008 semi-finalists and hope for the future ... only problem is, we seem to have said this after every campaign all of my life. At least I'll be entitled to a bus passes and OAP ticket prices when we finally have our day!
John Toshack doesn't endear himself to the public for so many reasons but one had to be his negative tactics. 4-5-1 again - with a little man who can't hold the ball in Bellamy up front - even though it was a 'must win' with 3 centre backs and a deep midfield that, at times, made us look 9-0-1!
Jason Koumas is the latest player to retire on the eve of a game ... this is now a regular event ... but saying he wanted to prolong his Premiership life at just 29 is a touch ridiculous. One thing's for sure - Koumas, for all his brilliance, has never seemed committed to the cause. Promising youngsters Jack Collison and Simon Church both missed out to, coincidentally, bury their fathers but it was still an ultra youthful side - Hennessey, Gunter, Collins, Williams, Gabbidon, Ricketts, Edwards, Stock, Ramsey, Ledley, Bellamy. Subs Not Used: Myhill, Eardley, Cotterill, Morgan, Evans, Earnshaw.
The opening spell was emphatically Wales' - corners, shots, saves, near misses and some superb play. However Russia turned it around and managed to get around or behind us into double figures by the interval as well as a single goal lead as Arshavin threaded a precision pass to one of their many Ov's - Semsov - to fire home.
However it was a different story after the break as Wales hit back and pressured the visitors into panic. Ginge - James Collins - superbly flicked home and equaliser on 55 at the near post and Ramsey, Bellamy, Edwards and Gunter all went close. The Russians were hanging on, surviving a penalty appeal and having to overhead kick on the line. There was niggle with on and off the ball altercations but Wales stood firm.
It was all highly encouraging until 19 minutes from time, Russia got a soft and silly free-kick, the Welsh compounding that by ju,ping over a mishit edge of area hit that gave Hennessey no chance.
Wales tried to respond but Russia were in no mood to let it slip again and sealed their win with sub Pavyunchencko firing home in added time.
Wales are set to finish and be stranded in 4th spot ... it's not good.
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