10/09/2013 Match of the Day Wales

A week is a long time in football. Especially if you are Chris Coleman.

Gareth Bale, the most expensive player ever. From Madrid to Cardiff.

The superstar arrives in Wales, as Coleman moves a step closer to

signing a new deal. There won't be a problem. I should be signing a

contract very soon. Wales manager Chris Coleman has arrived yesterday,

having been unable to travel with the squad yesterday, because he lost

his passport. He forgets his passport, Wales lose

and Wales stays on the bench. Sneefs never going to be available at the

start of the gym. At best he would have come on for maybe half an hour.

Then the former assistant coach brands the FAW a joke. I wouldn't

get carried away with what he says about my staff and me. What a night

in Serbia. Swaels battered 6-1 the last time the two countries met.

Wales, desperate for a win. Would Serbia's players come unstuck at the

Cardiff City Stadium. Well the bus door am gentlemaned.

Not the best start for the visitors. Good evening, a disastrous World Cup

campaign. Over a year ago we thought tonight's match with Serbia would be

crucial on the road to Rio. How wrong we were. Delighted to welcome

Neil Taylor to the Match Of The Day Wales studio. The thoughts of Neil

and Ewan Roberts coming up. First to the Cardiff City stadium. Will will

see car gar oath Bale in a Wales' shirt tonight? We'll find out

tonight. Over to the commentators. Gareth Bale is on the bench again:

Serbia hit by suspensions make four changes in the sued, captained by

Branislav Ivanovic. -- in the side. They include the Manchester City

pair Matija Nastasic and Aleksandar Kolarov. Tadic, Bisevac, Radovanovic

and Filip Djordjevic all come in. So, it's been a testing few days for

Chris Coleman. And Serbia here will look to prolong his discomfort. A

win for Wales, though, would maybe be signs of a brighter future. A

much-altered side. Five changes and plenty for this Welsh side to prove.

They won't lack motivation, after a 6-1 defeat a year ago. Against this

very same Serbian team. It'll be interesting. It has been interesting

already with the line-up that Coleman has actually chosen. Not

maybe the players he has chosen but the places he is playing, Ben Davis

playing as a centreback for the fist time in his career and also King and

Crofts a pairing in midfield which would allow Ramsey to roam about.

They do have a focus upfront. It's Sam Vokes who heads down for Aaron

Ramsey. Ramsey chips it across the box.

A good break for Bellamy. He was trying to thread that through to

Bellamy but overhit the pass. What a better sign.

That was given way aon the edge of the Welsh penalty area. Not a good

sign. They were fortunate that Markovic, one of the three Benfica

players in the Serb starting lane of had up, was off target with that

effort. -- starting line-up. A big let-off. He lets it past him. It was

like the mistake on Friday. But what a poor finish. A little bit of a

left-off. Markovic really should have hit the target.

Ramsey trying to do it all by himself and Stojkovic was called

into action. He was trying to play a one-two with

his Celtic team-mate there but it didn't work.

That was the a good cross by Kolarov and a decent safe by Myhill. They

turned it in at the second attempt. They waited for a flag. None

arrived. Serbia have a brilliant start. A great strike. The cross

straight away from Kolarov. A great run. Crofts doesn't stay with him.

He gets into a position where he whips a lovely cross in. I think

Croft is playing the player on-side. The players for Wales are standing

about wondering why he is not off-side. The reason being Andrew

Croft plays him on. Good save initially by Myhill. Then it was

headed across him and he had no chance.

Oh, problems here for Wales. It took a rescue by Andy King. That was

poor. Myhill really should be kicking that. He has put undue

pressure there on Andy King. That is poor. He has recovered well, has

King. These are difficult times for Wales.

Plenty of shoving in that penalty area. It's crowded around that

penalty spot. Standing room only. The The corner was driven through a

crowd of players. That was Tadic, the FC20 player. That was a great

shot. There are a lot of bodies there. Anything could have happened.

That's what the crowd wanted to see. That's more than he did on Friday.

When they lose it, it takes an awful long time to get the ball back.

This is Tadic. Wales struggling 1-0.

A gel now would really put things almost out of their reach. It wasn't

far away from Ivanovic. A free header. That will worry Chris

Coleman. Week-in and week-out he plays for

Chelsea. He will be disappointed he hasn't hit the target.

1-0 Wales trail. Joe Ledley trying to put things right. Ramsey. King is

on inside. Matthews on the outside. A good cross.

That was a lovely ball. If anything a little bit of a foul. He has

defended well. So close again. Good defending once

again from Serbia. It wasn't a bad cross. Wales are maintaining the

pressure with Ramsey. This is much better. Much more flu

ency in the Welsh play going forward. Bellamy on the ball again.

That might enthuse the crowd a little.

Oh, a poor header away. That was good tackling by Crofts there. Wales

profit more from there. Is he onside? He is. No, Stojkovic was

quick to advance. He was unlucky, I felt he drifted into an onside

position. It was touch and go. Can he throw himself at it?

Ledley. Davis intervenes. Ramsey again.

Driven out wide. He goes to ground. Was he caught after the... That was

a little push after that, by the player.

What has happened there. He has left the pitch and put his feet on... See

him slip. See his foot go underneath him.

I understand why the crowd are booing. He shows his frustration. As

he's gone in. The player has come in. He has jumped. He has taken his

legs from underneath him. It's a dangerous challenge this.

Wales have given the ball away again. This is dangerous. Myhill

comes to the rescue. He should have buried that, shouldn't he? Well,

giving the ball away, once again. Croft under pressure. He brings it

inside. Nice pass. Should be a finish. Should be two goals up

should be Serbia. That's poor play there, playing the ball in. At the

moment they are architects of their own downfall very largely, Wales,

aren't they? Giving the ball away in bad areas. 1-0 they trail. Could

have been more, should have been more.

Oh, what a goal! It's a huge task for Wales now. He scored against

Wales before. He buried that one from distance here in Cardiff. It's

Wales 0, Serbia 2. It doesn't surprise me, not from this player

anyway. He has a tremendous left foot. He has plenty of time. I tell

you what, he has a fairway to beat the keeper. It's not just the power

of the shot. It's just the direction of it as well. He has no pressure on

him what so ever. He can have a touch, adjust his body. Does he hit

it. Wow, does he hit it! I don't think Wales can complain too much.

Big hugs from the manager. He's under pressure as well. He hasn't

had an away win. Well, they are on the road to one here. Wales respond

quickly. Ledley. Good ball by Ledley into a restored

Ramsey. A little header. It just goes wide. He was coming back on

himself Sam Vokes. Good run by Ledley. Serbia have gone deep. Vokes

has to come back a little bit, to get his head on it. Much for Chris

Coleman to think of and talk about during the half-time break. He has a

lot to think. What does he do, substitution wise? Does he bring on

Gareth Bale? Does does he leave him on the bench? -- does he leave him

on the bench. Really powerful down this right hand

side. The referee from Poland, 32-year-old businessman. He is going

to show a yellow card to Andrew Crofts. That means he is out of the

last home qualifier next month against Macedonia. Just Macedonia at

home and Belgium away. It's not a great prospect for Chris Coleman.

Crofts is the first player booked. He was one of those on yellow peril.

More worrying for Wales, it is a free-kick. That won't worry them too

much. The Serban set-piece didn't work very well.

Picks out Ramsey. A chance for Aaron Ramsey. He drives it. Never really

troubling the keeper. Great pass to him. I think he could have take

continue on a little bit more. In comes Serbia again. They are

working through the middle. It's driven in. It's 3-0. Chris Colem's

night gets worse and worse. Craig Bellamy has to be aware of

him. He drifted inside once again. Time after time they have had shots.

In the end, he can't do anything about it.

It's a great save, the fist one from Myhill. But he can't do anything

about the second. The first one From Djordjevic, and the second one to

Markovic. And Andy King gives way to the world's most expensive

footballer. He has been on enough stages in the last week or so,

Gareth Bale. But this is the stage that he loves. Well, what a story

this would be. Somehow... No pressure, Gareth. I think it is a

little bit far-fetched, even for Gareth to get us out of this. But it

is always nice, isn't it, that people can see him. 32 minutes to

go. Bale is already hungry, looking for

the ball. He's just lifted this place. You wouldn't believe this

crowd were watching their side 3-0 down ever since Gareth Bale has come

on the pitch. It's how do you adjust?

Where does Ledley go? It looks like they are going to a

4-2-2 system. And Markovic, who scored the third

goal, finds the man who scored the second goal, Koroman. Kolarov.

Ben Davis is only 20. We keep saying it.

He is a lovely player. Down through the middle. He is

human. Here comes Serbia again. Markovic, he reads the game well.

Ramsay with space. Gym opening up. Ledley down the left-hand side. --

game opening up. Bale, shot.

The goalkeeper is forced into it - Bale the second time but driven it

wide. Well... That's why Real Madrid have paid that money for him. You

know, just something, at your feet, hits it. A little bit of dip, a

little bit of power. The keeper had to do his best to keep it out.

Unfortunately not for the second chance. Look at this, out to his

feet, not being closed down, a bit like Kolarov wasn't. He hits it. It

might have taken a slight deflection off a defenders' back.

Well he wasn't fit to contribute at all on Friday night. When it was

1-0, he might have made the difference.

Branislav Ivanovic goes on and Milivojevic is coming

Coming on. The corner will be taken by the substitute.

That seemed like a foul to start with, from Matthews. Bale again. Is

there some magic? Can they get a consolation goal? They have to pass

the ball there, Aaron Ramsey. Craig Bellamy frustrated.

This is Bale trying to make something happen.

I got the tackle in and Wales, after 78 minutes, win their first corner.

It is a test. Just put it in and see what you can get. A great

opportunity. Everybody has gone up from the back, Davis, and Gabbidon.

It's hit outside the box, though. He couldn't get there. It's gone to

Gunter. Ramsey is forward. He finds his captain.

A dipping cross from Bellamy T it alludes all three of the Welsh

players, though. He didn't do too well on the

clearance, but well enough. Bale on the ball. Easily crosses one

and another. The referee is pointing to Gareth Bale. I wonder whether he

judges that a dive? If that's the case, gets booked for

it and Gareth Bale is out of the Macedonia game at home. Now, wait.

More worrying... No, it looks like the referee is... Looks like he is

getting away with it now. It's a book booking for Fejsa. He

might be coming off. Krsticic coming on. Like-for-like. Here he is with

an opportunity here. An opportunity outside the box for Gareth Bale to

wind up. -- Tadic coming off. Bale sizes up this free kick. He has

11 goals for Wales. Hits it. Oh, almost through. Is nothing beyond

this man? Well, watch this ball dip. I mean, he hits it and then it dips.

It nearly catches the keeper out. That is a tremendous strike. They

will love that in the Bernabeu. He has had half an hour to lighten up

and brighten proceedings. He couldn't get Wales a goal but he's

already come the closest to scoring in a Wales' shirt.

Here he is again. Closely marked. Ramsey working his way down the

middle. He flicks it on to Matthews, who

crosses. Vokes - I don't think he knew too much about it, but it

didn't go in anyway. The clearance comes off his legs but great run by

Aaron Matthews. A decent ball in. I tell you what, that could have gone

anywhere. WHISTLE

Well, it's not 6-1 tonight but the boos will tell you it's another

defeat for Wales. Gareth Bale made a late entry. That

really the only highlight of an otherwise really disappointing night

for Wales. Delight for Serbia. They pick up their first away win in the

group and Wales look destined from bottom spot in Group A.

Bale - and he has shown just why his adventure with Real Madrid could be

so fulfilling for those fans at the Bernabeu but it has finished here at

the Cardiff City Stadium, Wales 3, Serbia 3 -- Wales o 0.

We have soon his left foot in the Premier League for Manchester City.

This was the moment in the match. Aleksandar Kolarov with a stunning

goal from 30 yards. Class, from Kolarov.

Let's hear from the Wales' manager, Chris Coleman? I don't blame the

supporters for being this disappointed. I don't blame them if

they want to - some sections are calling for my head. I don't blame

them, you know. They come, they are expectant and want to see a

formerance at the very least. If we lose but have performed and put out

they are not going to have that reaction. They were disappointed

with the perform be as. We are. There is no hiding from that. I just

felt after the Macedonia game we were scratching around for players

because we have so many injuries and suspensions and you are calling up

players that haven't been in the squad and they don't come. Which

hurts. I don't want to be unfair but was James Collins on your list?

James was out of the squad. Because I didn't want it change Sam Ricketts

and Ashley Williams. They were doing very, very well. Danny goodbye done

has been playing very well for Crystal Palace. Why change them?

They came into the Ireland squad so they did very well. There was no

place for James. James ex-played he didn't want to come into the squad

after being on standby because psychologically he was disappointed.

OK. But that's not the attitude I'm looking for. I'd rather someone turn

up and say to me db you got it wrong, I should be in the squad.

I'll really my sleeves up and prove you wrong. That's what I'm looking

for. I didn't get that. It has to mean everything to come and play for

Wales, if it doesn't, don't turn up. If you are turning up and have

another agenda, don't turn up. We need everybody here, the Boss team

we can get our hands on every game, friendlies, whatever they are,

qualifiers. -- the best team. I said last year after the crow Asian

games, after Wales I would like to work abroad again. I enjoyed working

abroad. I learned a lot. -- crow Asian games. But I look at the

players and I'm excited about what we can achieve and I genuinely think

that this group of players, two years, four years, they can do

something. And so, two games we have walked into where we are full of

optimism, and we are coming away full of misery, really. So it's

disappointed. A little bit soul-destroying.

So, this is how Group A looks tonight: Wales bottom of the group:

outthought, outplayed and outclassed by Serbia.

Let's bring you right up-to-date with some of tonight's other matches

in Group C. The Republic of Ireland needed a win. In Group F Northern

Ireland, already out of the World Cup Mr Beaten 3-2: England stay top

after a gelless draw with Ukraine. And Croatia, also in Wales' World

Cup group, took on South Korea in a friendly, winning 2-1.

Wales' under-21s were beaten in San Marino on Friday. Today a much

better performance from Geraint Williams' team. It finished 0-0 in

Moldova. So, a very warm welcome to Neil

Taylor. Neil welcome to Match Of The Day Wales. It was painful to watch

tonight. Yeah, it wasn't great. I think the manager has admitted that.

: It was disappointing. We have come

off a crest of good games where we played well. In the last two we

could have done better. It is disappointed overall. Two poor goals

and one unbelievable one. How many times have we sat in the studio and

discussed yet another dreadful Wales' performance? Too many times.

I think he was honest in his assessment of the game. He was spot

on. The 11 that he putted out to start the game, I don't think they

had the belief that they could go and beat Serbia tonight. Yes, we

totally understand that there are key players out, but that first-half

performance and the majority of the second half, until Gareth Bale come

on wasn't good enough. You were at the Cardiff City Stadium tonight

working for BBC Wales. The atmosphere looked after and pretty

incompetent defending. All three goals were avoidable, I think. This

was the first goal. Top it it is a great ball in. But then it is all

about poor defending. A good initial header. It is a good save I think

from Myhill but he puts it back into the danger area.

I think he has to cope with that better. He puts it at least over the

bar and he doesn't get the chance. I think going back early for that goal

they hit us on the counterattack. It was a good counterattack. They will

be happy. We were disappointed and how we recovered. Tfss avoidable.

What we didn't see, we were attacking down the left-hand side.

Adam mat use loses the ball and gives it away too sloppily. Ten

seconds later it is in the back of gives it away too sloppily. Ten

the net. We have seen Aleksandar Kolarov in the Premier League for

Manchester City. He has a terrific left foot that you pointed out. We

were watching, you said - he has a terrific left foot. Neil you are an

international footballer. Hopefully you will be back until the squad

very soon. What should happen here? You highlighted the crown that took

Crofty away. A good run by them. It makes the whole team shuffle over,

as you should do defensively. They pushed it out wide but when it gets

to him and he hits it, it is a great goe. But I look at Andy King. He has

to go quicker. Not saying he probably wouldn't score but he has

it make more effort. This was woeful, Iwan. Three men over and it

is almost, take your pick. It is. Once again, Kolarov makes the goal.

I think Tadic has the initial shot. It was a good save. Could he put

that past the post? Then it falls it the lad. He finishes it well. But

all three were sloppy goals and avoidable even though the second

goal was a great strike, I think Andy King should be closing down

quicker and better than he did. Can we take any positives out of

tonight's performance? I think it is difficult. People will take the Bale

performance as a positive. I thought Aaron Ramsey had a good game. Always

on the ball and available. But it is difficult. With the nature of the

goals and how the game went, a little flat. It is hard it take

positives. The platform is there for us, but we are missing so many

players. The biggest cheer of the night was when Real Madrid's

supersigning came on the pitch. He was only on for half an hour. We

managed to put a sequence together which show that is why Real Madrid

was broken the world transfer record for this fellow. He creates a great

atmosphere Jews by his presence. Great awareness here. How many times

have we seen him doing this for Spurs? The movement on that ball --

-- just by his presence. He puts the ball through Kolarov's

legs. Once again, it is just the power and

the pace of Gareth. He causes people problems. He makes things happen.

You know, he looked fully fit to me. He didn't look a player that had

been out for so many weeks, out injured. I think he lifted the team.

I think the team looked more of an attacking threat. He is a direct

player. When he picks up the ball he looks to do one thing - attack the

opposition's goal. It lifts the team and the crowd. You could hear the

crowd. That's what he brings to the team. That's what we were probably

missing over two games. It was unfortunate by it is how it is with

his fitness. More on the future of Chris Coleman and the foot bull

association of Wales -- football. Association of Wales. Let's face T

that will be in -- let's face it. That will be in Sport Wales on

Friday. So, Chris Coleman, what happens

next? Does he deserve a new contract?

I think it is a tough one, to be honest. He's already - he has come

to an agreement with the Welsh FA. It just needs pen to paper. I

wouldn't be surprised if the Welsh FA now turn around and say - let's

look at the next couple of games, see how we get on and where we

finish and then we will get the contract back out again and you can

sign it. I think he does deserve another chance in all honesty. I

think we have spoken so many timed about the difficult circumstances,

he took the job over in. Performances have been better.

Taking tonight out of the equation, Macedonia, I thought we played well

and didn't deserve to loose. I think he deserves one more qualifying

campaign. This may be difficult for you, knowing you know Jimenez and

you are part of his international set-up. Does he have the backing of

the players Easy to answer. He has the backing of the players. He in

international football he hasn't been in charge for a long time. He

needs all the players out there fit. For a small nation like Wales, we

have great players but you need them fit. He didn't have that at his

disposal. You need continuity. I know the boys like playing him. His

style is to keep the boys playing and passing and playing a nice way.

He is passionate and Welsh and the boys like playing for him. Great to

see you. Thank you very much. Enjoyed your company. Iwan, thank

you very much. Another defeat for Wales but at

least this time we got to see Gareth Bale. From all of us here, bye for

now. COMMENTATOR: Kolarov drives it. Oh,

what a goal. Oh, almost through.

It's another defeat for Wales.