Wales boss Craig Bellamy has called on his players to strive for greater consistency within games to allow his side to grow heading into their UEFA Nations League encounter with Montenegro in Cardiff.
Bellamy’s men drew 2-2 in Iceland on Friday to extend their unbeaten start in the competition to three games – but they surrendered a two-goal lead.
“We’re looking for consistency in the game,” said Bellamy. “I do understand it, but that’s what we’re pushing for over a longer period, both with and without the ball.
“We’ve managed to put ourselves in a position of being two goals up in the last two games. In both, we had two huge opportunities to make it 3-0.
“It’s a lot easier being at 3-0 than 2-0, and that one goal can make a difference. We had earned the right during those games where the opposition have had to change their intensity.
“When you play against a team away from home, you expect that, but we then have to match that intensity. We have to then sprint to create the angles and we need to gain more consistency in recognising that. We’ve had four or five periods of build up where things haven’t worked out, but we have to manage it.
“We can’t allow teams to gain momentum but these things are normal. We’ve had a number of meetings since then [the Iceland game] and it’s a case of discipline allows you to have good habits.
“Good habits allow you to be consistent, and if you’re consistent then you can grow. We’re just in that period at the moment of trying to be consistent to allow us to really grow.”
Bellamy accepts everyone loves romance in football but thinks asking Joe Allen to solve his midfield conundrum against Montenegro would be a “gamble”.
Swansea veteran Allen, capped 74 times for his country and among Wales’ best-ever midfielders, reversed the decision he made in February 2023 to retire from international football earlier this month.
The 34-year-old’s fitness issues were such that he did not make the matchday squad for Friday’s 2-2 Nations League draw against Iceland in Reykjavik on a night when Wales’ slim central midfield options took another hit.
Jordan James received his second booking in the competition to earn a one-match ban, his absence for Montenegro’s visit on Monday adding to that of injured pair Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu.
Allen has not started a game since April 1, with only a handful of appearances from the Swansea bench this season.
“Of course he’s a gamble if you throw him in from the start because of his minutes and football this year,” Bellamy said.
“It’s clear he hasn’t been playing football. We knew that from the start.
“Hopefully he kicks the ball for me on Monday. Even if he doesn’t he’s had an incredible week and been really positive for us.
“When you see a player like him in training and the habits he has you understand why he’s had such a great career. That’s really important.
“We all love romance, no? It doesn’t always happen in football. You’re in the wrong business if you don’t like romance in football.
“I’m so appreciative for what he has been able to do for our country. I say this with Aaron Ramsey but I truly believe it… you don’t want to let go, stay longer. I’m going to use every bit of him.
“Would I want the fairytale ending for these type of people? Yes, because of what they’ve given.”
Josh Sheehan is more likely to get the nod over Allen to start at Cardiff City Stadium and, although he wore the armband against Gibraltar in the summer, the 29-year-old is at League One Bolton – the only Wales squad member operating below the Championship.
It underlines the lack of numbers Wales possess in central midfield, a problem that has nagged long and hard before Bellamy settled into the hot seat in July.
He said: “We are light in the number six area and that’s through all the age groups. If you gave me a look at squad planning when I first came into this, that’s why attacking I could double up.
“In one or two areas we don’t quite have… we’ve seen bigger nations than ours really struggle in that area.
“It’s a really important area for how we play. We just have to get on with it. I’m looking forward to seeing how one or two others get on in that position. They deserve it.”
Wales will also be without the suspended Brennan Johnson but there are no fresh injury concerns. Tottenham winger Johnson picked up a second Nations League booking in Reykjavik to receive a one-match ban.
Captain Ben Davies is looking forward to leading the side out at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, and believes expectations have increased given the encouraging start Bellamy has made in the hot seat.
“We set ourselves up a bit in the first game with how well it went and how well we played,” said the Spurs defender.
“All of a sudden, the expectations are sky high but every time a new manager comes in, you have to adapt and you have to try and learn as a group.
“We’re working hard in tough conditions. The pitches have been quite tough to play that nice style of football, but hopefully back in Cardiff it will give us a good chance to do it right.”
On facing Montenegro, Davies said: “In the games that we’ve played so far where we’ve gone ahead early, it does force teams to change.
“I would expect them to come out and start by keeping it tight in an attempt to avoid a similar start to Iceland and like they had themselves against us last time.
“It will be tough – Turkey are full of attacking options and found it difficult but we’re prepared to go at them again.”
Wales vs Montenegro talking points
Brennan blow
Wales must do without in-form Johnson after the Tottenham winger’s booking in Reykjavik to receive a one-match ban.
Johnson put Wales ahead in Iceland by scoring in his seventh successive game and was a constant threat before being replaced at half-time in what Bellamy described as a “precaution”.
Wales never carried the same threat in Iceland after Johnson’s withdrawal and Bellamy will be determined there is no repeat against Montenegro.
Second helpings needed
The same pattern has unfolded in Wales’ three games under Bellamy – blistering starts and impressive first-half performances followed by a drop off in intensity during the second period.
Wales held on to win in Montenegro after scoring twice in the opening three minutes, Iceland were perhaps unlucky not to take all three points after trailing 2-0 at the interval.
The lack of minutes many of the squad are currently having at club level could be a factor in sustaining the energy needed to carry out Bellamy’s all-action front-foot style of football.
Midfield concerns
Injuries to skipper Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu weakened the Wales midfield before the trip to Iceland.
Jordan James’ second booking in the competition in Reykjavik and subsequent suspension has added further concern over that particular area.
Joe Allen, having reversed his decision to retire from international football, was not fit enough to make the 23-man matchday squad in Iceland. The only other natural central midfielder available is Josh Sheehan, who plays for League One Bolton.
Biter banned
Preston’s Montenegro striker Milutin Osmajic would have been public enemy number one in Cardiff after biting Blackburn’s Welsh defender Owen Beck during a Deepdale clash last month.
Osmajic was given an eight-match ban and fined £15,000 for an incident that evoked memories of former Liverpool forward Luiz Suarez’s chomping antics.
The 25-year-old is suspended for the Cardiff clash after picking up a second Nations League booking during Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Turkey.
State of play
Turkey are in the box seat to win automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with seven points at the halfway stage of the campaign.
Wales, who visit Turkey for their penultimate fixture next month, are on five points and Iceland four.
Beating bottom-placed Montenegro, who are yet to win a point, would be a big step to Wales securing at least second spot in the group and a place in the promotion play-offs next March.