12/10/2012 Match of the Day Wales

This is 1306 -- supposed to be the road to Rio. It's a nightmare

journey. Beaten by the Belgiums, smashed by the Serbs. Chris Coleman

is a man under pressure. Despite two draws, Craig Levein is feeling

the heat. Wales must win tonight. We must take some points, we know

that, to give ourselves a chance to cause a bits of damage in the

qualifiers. One game, one good result, and all of a sudden you

have turned the corner. There's so were history between these two

nations. Wales 57th in the FIFA ranking. A new captain. And so were

on the shoulders of Gareth Bale. And Scotland, threch -- Fletcher

back, and Miller back. We have let the manager down, the words of the

new Wales captain earlier this week. Chris Coleman and Craig Levein

desperate for a win. We're on Twitter also tonight. Let us know

what you think. First to the Cardiff City Stadium where Wales

beat Scotland in a friendly in 2009. Wales give a debut to Ben Davis in

the injury-plagued left back the injury-plagued left back

position. Ashley Williams leads Wales for the fifth time. The

return of the Fletchers give Scotland a double boost. Darren

Fletcher back, and Stephen Fletcher back after patching up his

difference with Craig Levein. Pay- back time for Wales' players. They

owe their nation and a manager a performance after that 6-1

nightmare. Both they and Chris Coleman need a win, or the World

Cup campaign will be over in just two months. And that will raise all

sorts of question marks about the future, two teams under real

pressure. Lewis Price back at the Wales' goal-keeping position. There

was a bit of pushing. Morison getting up a little bit early.

too much in it. A little bit lucky there. He knows the pressure is on.

Four games, four defeats. The questions will be asked if Wales

don't win this one, with a trip to Croatia on Tuesday. A long shot

from Bale. A man--- man full of confidence. He has only one thing

on his mind, getting the ball set up as quickly as possible and

this Guy. He's at the top of his game. He takes him on, on the

inside, and whips it past the far past. A good yard wide. His

intentions are there. A quality strike. That's the beauty of Bale

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Hutton. The score for Scotland, in 27 appearances. Leaning back a

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Scotland happy to keep possession centre backs to have it. I think

Ramesh has to drop off, and pick up ready to celebrate! I think

that's the best chance that Morison has had in the four competitive

games. A lovely cross by Gareth Bale. He has gone everything but

hit the back of the net! Great technique... Morison' only goal for

Wales was here against Montenegro. A chance for Scotland and they have

the lead! It's James Morrison. Seconds after Wales went close

Scotland have the crucial advantage. A second goal for James Morrison

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under Chris Coleman. Ledley is pulled down by Caldwell. This

really should be a booking. That's a cynical foul by Caldwell. Ever

Wales needed something spectacular. If ever Chris Coleman needed

something spectacular it's now... Can Gareth Bale deliver? No, it's

into the Tartan Army. I think he's leaning back, just leepbs back a

touch. Trys to hit across the ball. That's how you get the movement. --

going. Coming across, Gunter is on to it. Allen would have loved to

have taken that a little bit chance. Through the legs of

Morrison who made that possible morning papers there, I think. A

great ball out to Gareth... Ben Gareth Bale, when he's in this mood.

There no stopping him. So influential to this side. A good

play by Davis. Hutton stays forward. Fletcher with a header! Oh what a

chance by Steve Morison to double the lead before the break. He's

there. But he's not coming on to it. He has had to adjust his body. He

can't get on to it. That's not the first time that Morison has been in

a position maybe to hurt Wales. Wales kick off this second half and

they need to strike quickly. Scotland have made a chance. Scott

brown has been replaced by Charlie Adam. He was immediately shadowing

Aaron Ramsey. And maybe Craig Levein feels that Ramsey has seen

toj tooth of the ball in the space in the first half. Sound of

bagpipes in the crowd. Scotland sitting on a lead. If they hold it,

they will go to five points. And it will leave Wales rock bottom yon

yom on zero with a trip to Croatia for Wales in the first half or

second. Hutton with a delivery, just gone out. You said it in the

first half, the next goal is crucial. Can Wales deal with a

corner? Great defending from Blake here. There's a shout for either an

off side or a foul. This ball comes in, a little bit of a tug there.

Handball as well. Great defending by dars dars, just to get a block -

- Darcy just to get a block in player, thinking he can beat

everybody, not just by a bit of great touch to start with. Too

heavy. That's a lovely touch from Ramsey. Just that third touch

really isn't it. I think Bale said something because he has been

booked for dissent. He saw yellow then, did Gareth Bale, but he's not

one of the Welsh players on a yellow card going into this game.

Ramsey shows his frustration. a booking is it? He won't want a

booking. He's already on a yellow. Referee reaches for his pocket and

and Aaron Ramsey is out of the trip to Croatia. A second yellow.

lungs in, and what do you expect? A yellow all day long... Lunges.

booking and a sending off. A booking and a sending off if not a

foul. It has to be seen as a dive. I think other than a goal, Darcy

Blake has been exceptional. second goal for Scotland will make

things impossible for the Welsh side, who are battling for their

manager. Ramsey... Oh, what a chance! He has got to lift this

ball. What a great ball by Ben Davies. The ball won't come right

for him. McGregor goes down early. If he lifts the ball over him,

the team. That's a yellow. This is sloppy by Gunter. I feel there's a

few tired legs out there. That's headed by aby Allen. Picked up by

plug up, it won't count. What a return to international football

hard look and Wales are back in this, if they can score from the

spot. I tell you what... That's a trick and an art in itself,

clipping your own heels! When he gets a runner there's no stopping

responsibility. Gareth Bale the best player on the Welsh side. The

hopes of a nation... Scores for Wales! They are back in this. They

may be, just may be back in the World Cup hunt. Look at the

composure, he stops and goes. When you take a penalty like that, you

wait for the goalkeeper. Look at a fresh pair of legs. Maybe

Scotland made it a little bit too The referee don't know about that.

Bale! What a goal! Bale! What a fantastic strike. Wales are right

back on the World Cup trail! Thanks to their man in a million, Gareth

Bale. Gareth Bale take a bow! This is unbelievable. Look at the

confidence of this lad. Said it all night. Pow! Straight in the back of

the net. What an absolute dream torbgts boy of our dreams, Gareth

Bale. I could watch this all night! This is shut the Scots up. Look at

Chris Coleman... He's absolutely delighted. And why not? La a weight

lifted from his shoulders. There's still time to go. What a player

Gareth Bale is. He's the man the Scots feared. My Oh my didn't they

have ever reason. Chris Coleman, desperate for that first win. Can

it come here, at the Cardiff City Stadium in the Battle of Britain.

Chris Coleman has his first win as Wales manager! Such a weight lifted

from his shoulders, on to those of Craig Levein. And it's Gareth Bale

the golden boy of the golden generation who has rescued Wales'

World Cup hopes and has given his nation a priceless victory. Two

goals in the last 11 minutes as Wales' one world class talent show

why he's the best left-sided player in the world, even though he plays

on the right four his country. fantastic performance from Gareth

Bale. And a -- what a great sight. Look at the players congratulating

each other. They have done a very good job tonight, every one of them,

but I tell you what, you have to take your hat off to Gareth Bale.

The penalty and obviously the second goal. What a player, what a

player we have got and thankfully we have got him. Chris Coleman has

a world reannounced player in his ranks. He has turned around the

World Cup tie. Finished Wales 2, Scotland 1. Gareth Bale has

outstanding for Wales tonight, and how released Chris Coleman must be.

Enjoy ever moment of Ballesteros' wonder goal. Congratulations, what

a game. Yeah, it was a great game, for both sets of fans, it was a

game that football reminds you what it is. Great to be a part of it,

and great to get the win. What do you say to something like that? I

would have paid money to watch that myself tonight. We said before the

game, both teams would go for it. I said to them, be brave tonight, in

terms of wanting the ball and passing the ball. They were all

that and more. That special goal, must have been a bit something

different. That was amazing. I haven't scored the winner for my

country before, and it was an unbelievable feeling. The most

important thing for the team we have the three points to kick-start

a campaign. He's a special player. Not many players can do what Gareth

did. He's such a threat every time he gets the ball. Especially in a

situation like that, steps up, a great execution. The winter worthy

of a great goal. Unbelievable. He has to be one of the best players

in the world at the moment. Pleased to have him in our team. We did

play well as a team. That should not be taken away from the team.

But he's a special player. We have shown the character of the team. We

have grown up together. From boys to men. It was great to get the

victory -- victory. A long time, where we have discussed a Wales win.

Let's enjoy every minute. A traumatic 11 months. What a

performance. Fantastic. A joy to watch. A great game to of football.

Credit has to go to the team and to Chris. He was looking for a

reaction after Serbia. You were at the stadium. I've not seen a goal

celebrated like that as it was tonight. A goal worthy of winning

any game. An extent performance, Scotland take the lead when Morison

should have scored. Bale done really well. Got past his man, a

great cross in for Steve, unfortunately didn't get the target.

Jew think it's in the back of the net. That will disappoint Chris.

Davies and Blake can be in better positions to deal with it. So soon

after the chance. They will learn from that, and look at it from the

skroo and lefrpb from the future. spoke Gareth will get the headlines,

but you have to give the young man credit. I think you have to give

Ben Davis credit and Chris Coleman. His first cap. What I like about

him, he likes getting forward, Jason, he's not just happy sitting

back. Good delivery. A great practises prospect. I don't

remember a performance where Wales looked so confident on the ball.

Chris Coleman encouraged the boys to be brave. You can see all game,

there was good chances, and good half chances. Gareth Bale unlucky

with that shot in the first half. That's a half chance, when that

goes wide, you think it will not be our night again, eventually it came.

Here you can see players wanting to get in front of the ball.

Unfortunately here sliced off. you are going to be ultra critical

of Wales' performance, in international football when you get

your chances you have to take them. The last shot, could have been one

of the nights. Lots of chances not going in. To be fair, Gareth Bale

mentioned the word "character". Massive pressure on the boys

tonight. Five defeats in a row. Chris Coleman didn't want to be a

manager, and loses the first five games. To go a goal down, and play

at the level we did, and gave the goals they did. You can't give them

enough credit. We have been victim of handball and penalties. Do you

think Wales should have had some penalties. One yes, one no. This

one here, aroon, getting in the box, it game -- came with a lot of

energy, and enthusiasm. I think he was anticipating Charlie Adams

coming in. Kevin said if it is not a foul he will be booked. At the

least it's destruction. He's not looking at the ball. He's making

sure claiing Davis is not getting near to the ball. You are a manager

now. If he didn't get that, you'll ask some questions. Eventually

these things iron themselves out over many, many years. What a run.

Pace power. Maloney not a defensive minded player getting himself back.

A slightest of contact from Maloney. That's enough. When you're running

at the pace Gareth Bale does, it takes a little clip, and he looks -

knocks his leg. The goalkeeper went left, and Gareth kept his head.

Gareth Bale is going his celebration to the camera, and the

rest of the team think we can win, this and that is what happened.

After the penalty, Scotland got into the game, and pressed us

powered. I'm thinking at that stage they were going to win it. Craig

Levein feels like, I've done -- listening to interviews, he thinks

they were hard done by. We don't get a great camera angle. His team

were in the past -- last for the last few minutes. Newspapers off

over the world are saying it's one of the best goals they have ever

seen. He creates the ball -- goal himself, Charlie Adams turns his

back, Gareth Bale against anybody, it's Charlie Adams. At this level

of football, you switch off for a couple of seconds. That's what it

takes. I'm really pleased for Chris. Let's show you how group A looks

the top of the table. Wales finally have their first point of the

picked up a yellow card. He's out. Disappointing, an opportunity for

someone else to come in and do well. After that win, the next couple of

days will be easier. They will be able to dive on to Ballesteros'

back. I'm delighted for him. He's a top guy. He will have left no stone

unturned to get that three points tonight. He knows this is only a

start, the beginning. We have a very, very tough game on Tuesday.

What would you do with Aaron Ramsey out? I think I would start with Hal

Robson-Kanu. He is positive and plays strong. And he crosses the

ball. That's what you want for a centre forward. Let's not forget

Croatia are a fantastic footballing side. They have fantastic players.

This is a big test. A massive test, there's no expectation on us.

Nobody is expecting us to get a result, could we should relish. The

lads worked their socks off, all the fans, should be very proud.

need to start talking about him in the same tone as Ronaldo. We can't

expect Gareth Bale to produce performances like that game after

game. Other players have to step up. Is the World Cup campaign back up

and running. It is tonight. We need to build on it. Take the positives