11/10/2013 Match of the Day Wales

And a crushing defeat to Serbia last time out. Wales battered and

bruised and humiliated. Bottom of the group, tonight Wales take on

Macedonia and the pressure is on this man - Chris Coleman, fighting

to save his job. Some familiar faces, some new ones. And we were

all young ones as Wales says goodbye to a goalscoring legend. --

younger ones. Craig Bellamy plain his a final match at home. A future

manager maybe? Who knows. Good evening. As some countries start

planning for the 2014 World Cup, Wales are battling to not finish

bottom. First, Wales taking on Macedonia.

So, Macedonia kick off in the basement battle of Group A, and

surely a night of destiny for Chris Coleman as Craig Bellamy bids his

spare world to international football on home soil. -- bids his

farewell. There was contact. I think it is a

foul. I don't think there is a touch on the ball. Definitely a

foul, but is it inside or outside. Could play by Ivanovski. -- could

play. Bellamy again. Wales when a corner.

The opportunity is there to put it in if you want to. There is Simon

Church and Robson-Kanu. Bellamy is back on defence. Over to

Robson-Kanu. That was definitely a foul. However, Alioski made a bit

of a meal of it. You cannot blame James Collins for

that. The keeper has to make his own decision whether or not to come

forward. That was an awful miss! This has got to be one of the

misses of the year. He does everything right, he get it past

Hennessey and Orly has to do is smashed it into the back of the

goal. -- and all he has to do. The linesman has got to see that. If he

is not giving a penalty, he has to baulk at the player. There is no

contact on the ball by the defender. That was a great ball and a great

run from Simon Church. What a great cross by Declan John.

Bellamy shoots! The goalkeeper has made a meal of it, but Pacovski has

denied Bellamy what would have been his 20th goal for Wales.

A chance for church... The block was vital and Wales have to settle

for a corner. There is a lot of energy in the

side and we are playing at a tempo that suits our energy.

There was a good idea by Ivanovski, but Hennessey had it covered anyway.

Good control by Ramsey. He is full of confidence.

Simon Church, very, very busy. He knows the ball is coming in. He was

just unlucky. Gunter have got there ahead of Hennessey. It was an

Ivanovski cross. Robson-Kanu leaves his beak rival

Alioski floundering. -- big rival. Can he get the ball across? He can,

but he has hit the would work. That was an extremely good run. That was

a cross and not a shot. Maybe that is what foxed the keeper.

You can see what Randjelovic was thinking of. He has got the right

idea. It could be a booking for Declan

John. He is celebrating his first Welsh appearance with a booking. He

has definitely taken a player. Decisions, decisions for Chris

Coleman. Jonathan Ford there, the chief

executive of the Football Association of Wales.

The keeper got last there. He is not quite sure. It is not the best

of crosses. That has come off the top of the crossbar. Difficult ball.

Nice space to move into. Powerful runner. Bellamy in support. What can

Bellamy do here? He was looking for the return to Robson-Kanu. I tell

you what, Church pulled up because Robson-Kanu was coming down the

middle. He pulled off wide and left the space for Robson-Kanu in the end

to run into. More encouragement for Wales on a gusty evening here at the

Cardiff City Stadium. Ramsey, again. Superb ball to find Bellamy! Oh,

wonderful goal, Simon Church, the architect was Ramsey. I tell you

what, you won't get better play than this. This is fantastic from Ramsey.

It is all made from the weight and pace of his pass and the direction

of it. So that Craig Bellamy, he has come short, he goes in behind the

full-back, but this is tremendous from Aaron Ramsey. He goes across.

Where is Craig Bellamy? There he is, makes the run, inch perfect. Craig

Bellamy with a great cross and Simon Church with great execution. This is

just what Simon Church wanted. Sidefooter. Great pass. Well seen.

Well passed, again. A great execution. Simon Church breaks the

deadlock for Chris Coleman. How happy is the Wales manager?

Into the penalty area. Collins deals with it and looks for Bellamy as

well. The little switch from Bellamy to the right hand side paid

dividends. Here comes Bellamy down the left. He's onside. Craig Bellamy

hones in on goal. Is this a fairytale finish? Ah, it's not.

Well, maybe a year or two ago, Craig Bellamy might have got away from his

fullback, but he allows the full-back to get back to him.

Shout from one or two of the Macedonia players for handball. It

gets flicked over. Taylor, that is handball. That hit his arm. A

penalty for each side. You have to say he is a lucky man. Driven in low

this time. It was Noveski, who has been a bit of a threat at the Wales

goal, he wnt finish. -- can't finish. That's a chance. At the

moment, Wales are looking to protect their lead as Alioski crosses.

Hennessey takes command. What about Wayne Hennessey's return? His last

game was Gary Speed's final match? He made one poor decision to come to

the ball. Great opportunity to get forward now. Ramsey to Bellamy.

Bellamy would love a goal. Into the penalty area. Ramsey. Brought down.

Penalty. It will be a chance for another Ramsey spot-kick and for

Wales to seal this victory. I think Craig Bellamy might get this. It has

to be Aaron Ramsey. Great play by Bellamy. Great appreciation. Poor

defending, by the way, I must admit. He has to shadow him a little bit

better. He sticks his leg out. It suits Aaron Ramsey.

Aaron Ramsey can settle it here. He scored a penalty in vain in

Macedonia. This time, he can seal a victory.

Back in the captain's armband. Ramsey steps up. Oh, it's saved!

Well not everything is going for Aaron Ramsey this season. Bellamy

tries again, chips it across Robson-Kanu, he keeps it in. Plenty

of red shirts forward. Pacovski denied Ramsey. It wasn't the best

penalty he has ever taken, Aaron Ramsey. Bellamy still trying, maybe

he should have taken it. He wins the corner. The way he takes the

penalty, it he should be going to the keeper's left. He comes across

his body. It's very difficult that what he is trying to do. He has to

go to the opposite corner, he has to it had the top corner. The way he is

addressing it, very hard. Will it be Costly though? Macedonia

come forward again. Pandev! Hennessey gets down to that

one. He went down in stages here, Hennessey. Twisting and turning.

Pandev attacks the Wales' penalty area. You have to be really clever

and sure footed as Collins was there. Played across once more. He

thought that could have flew past Wayne Hennessey, who was rooted to

the spot. It's a victory for Wales. Whether it make as difference to the

long-term future of Chris Coleman remains to be seen. Wales had the

luxury of missing a penalty, but they have ensured that Craig Bellamy

will leave the scene at home with a victory. It finished Wales 1,

Macedonia 0. No debate needed from the moment of the match, Ramsey,

Bellamy, Church, one of the best team goals Wales have scored for

many a year. COMMENTATOR: Wonderful goal, Simon

Church. He played across the first time. It's dangerous. Defenders

don't have the time to recover and get in. Church finished it off ever

so well. I have played with Simon after so many years he has always

been a live wire and making runs in behind the defenders. I enjoy

playing with him am he was no different again tonight. Aaron

Ramsey, describe what a player he is now? Away, 's frightening what he

does sometimes on the ball. You can give d to him anywhere. He scores

goals. His club form has been phenomenonal. He has been great

tonight other than the penalty. Was it for Chris? Yeah, for him, the

fans, for everyone, the players as well. We haven't had a win in a

while. It was important for us to do that tonight. We got the three

points. Obviously, it's Craig's last game as well, the (inaudible) will

go to him as well. We will hear from Chris Coleman later in the programme

when we discuss if he is the right man to lead Wales in 2016. Micky,

are you relieved tonight? I am. To get a win, get off the bottom. Good

performances and magnificent goal to win the game. It has been a good

night for Chris Coleman. Too little, too late? Sadly, it is. Not been the

best qualifying campaign for us. For passion, for pride, for character I

think the boys tonight have been different class. A team that has

been thrown together within the last few days because of the withdrawals

we have had, I can't speak highly enough of them. We have seen special

goals from Gareth Bale in the last 12 months or so. For you, is this

one of the best team goals that Wales have scored for a long time? I

think it's a tremendous goal. Church had a couple of chances. He missed,

but kept going. Aaron Ramsey. This is what he does for Arsenal. A great

turn. He carries the ball forward. He can see the space he wants to put

the ball in. He waits for Craig to make his run. You talk about weight

of pass. That is perfect. Craig puts a delightful ball in. He had a

chance a couple of minutes before, that was a poor ball. Simon Church,

terrific finish. What a pass from Aaron Ramsey? ? A player at the top

of the game. Scoring goals for fun. Creativity, he is the best in the

Welsh team. He sees the run from Bellamy. Perfect pass, perfect cross

and great finish from Church. Simon Church is playing for Charlton

Athletic in the Championship. He scored three goals this season. He

could have had more for Wales tonight? I like him. He has good

movement and makes good runs. Gets it out of his feet. Good defending.

This is his best chance. What a ball in from Declan John. This one, he

makes something out of nothing. . He gets across the defender. Very

difficult chance for him that one. We watched the game together, we

said, didn't we, how wonderful it would be if Craig Bellamy scores

tonight especially as Cardiff City Stadium? A you pokerful shot, it

could have gone into the back of the net. When he gets in this position

he finds the back of the net. That is a chance he missed. That is the

one he will be disappointed. Craig of 12 or 18 months, once he gets

past the back four, there is no catching him. We debated a number of

penalty moments. We felt Robson-Kanu should have had a penalty. And there

was handball. We deserve luck. The Is that what it comes down to now, a

little bit of luck? We got it on the night. We had a claim for a penalty.

The one we got, you expect Ramsey to put the ball in the net, he misses.

Great play by Bellamy. Drives into the 18 yard box. Clearly a penalty.

He asked Bellamy if he wanted to take the penalty. He said no, you

are the captain, take it. A poor penalty? It is a poor penalty. He

scored at Scotland with the same penalty. He scored in Macedonia

doing the same thing against the same goalkeeper. The goalkeeper

guessed the right way. Good height for the goalkeeper. We are delighted

that Wales have won tonight. Let us be honest, Macedonia had a lot of

chances tonight's? Four or five... Really good chances. Poor finishing,

that is why they are bottom of the group. They are not a good team. We

agree on that. They were a better side at home than they showed

tonight. They had injuries to key players who didn't play. They have

to take their chances. We've played well at times when we haven't got

the results we deserved. Tonight I thought we were top-class. The

pressure was on. Ramsey was man of the match tonight. I thought James

Collins was magnificent this evening? No question, James Collins

was man of the match. He has come back in. A bit of a problem with

Chris Coleman. Everything he did was top drawer. He times it to

perfection. If he gives away the free-kick there it's a dangerous

position. This one here, Bellamy gets caught sleeping. He comes

across. Leaves his marker. Sees the danger. Once again, the timing of

his tackle was superb. That is the best I have seen James Collins play.

The pressure was on him tonight after everything that has gone on in

the last few weeks. Great to see him back in a Wales shirt Now, Chris

Coleman. It was a show of intent. We had to Bataan down the hatches. We

wanted to show people we have a little bit of depth in the squad,

more than what we thought by the looks of it. I thought our lads were

absolutely brilliant. Brave performance. Played great football

at times. Made good chances. We rode our luck with it. They had a few

chances. Overall I thought we deserved to win. It I thought our

players were brilliant. Aaron Ramsey, what else can be said about

him? He is real, real top quality. I think... When he missed the penalty,

he could have made it easier in the last five for us. He is doing it now

every game. He is consistent every game. He has matured. He is a

different player. Like I said before, that is because he has had a

lot of football now. He found his ritment again. He always had the

potential and ability. You called James Collins across, pat on the

back. How a big a man was he out there for you today? He was

everything that we needed him to be. He was everything that he can be.

The we have seen that many times from him. He is not playing in the

Premier League for nothing. He was brilliant. When you are under

pressure. They were throwing balls in the box. He was throwing his head

at it. I'm not the best manager on the planet, I know that, I'm

certainly not a coward. I don't mind when it comes my way, I will stand

and take it. I always have. It will come again, maybe, I don't know. I

said before, two weeks ago, we have two campaign games, play Finland in

a friendly. That is when I look at it and go, right, what can we do

going forward? Can we work together? Maybe the FA will have their own

ideas as well. That will be a conversation after the Belgium game.

I want to get there and get another performance from these lads and try

and get another result. We will talk to Micky and Ewan in a moment after

that interview. Belgium was the 11th team to qualify for the 2014 World

Cup. Croatia finish top of our Group. They are through to the World

Cup finals for the first time since 2002. They will be tough to beat in

Brazil. Wales travel to Brussels next week. Really fascinating

interview there. He says, I'm not the best manager on the planet. We

want a great manager for our national team, don't we? Is he the

right man? The results have to improve. Four wins now, I think 13

or 14 games. He has to get on a inwithing run and bring Collins back

into the camp. He had one or two problems. It's not an easy job. When

he has a full 11, with four or five missing, it is a tough job. Has it

changed anything for you? I said after the Serban game I think he is

the man to take us forward into the next qualifying campaign? He has

been unlucky in this campaign with injuries. At times he caused his own

problems. The passport issue, the issue with James Collins. He put

himself under pressure. Big thing for me is, the players want to play

for him. Did you see that tonight? I saw that tonight. You saw team

spirit tonight? Yes. You saw players who believed in an under-fire

manager? They performed. They had a short space of time to prepare for

this game. I thought they showed a togetherness and willingness to work

for their manager and a spirit, not that it has not been there before,

when Chris needed them the most, they have stepped up to the mat. You

cannot question his passion? You can't. You can question what the

Welsh FA are doing. He needs things to be sorted out. I'm not clear what

is happening with Chris Coleman, he doesn't know either. The uncertainty

is not healthy. That needs to be addressed quickly. The Football

Association of Wales, Jonathan Ford must know what he wants to do with

the national team and the national coach by now? You would have thought

so. What is he waiting for? Exactly. Is he waiting for these results?

Performances. I'm not too sure about results. Performances. They finish

bottom of the Group he doesn't get a new contract, is that what you think

is happening? I think you have to pick a manager and give him time and

stick with him. I think... He has not been in the job two years yet.

As I said, he had problems, I think we need to give him another

opportunity because the players want to play Forlan him, I think? Is it

what the fans want? You saw how many people turned up tonight? Do the

fans wants Chris Coleman going to the euro 2016? They want to see a

winning team and belief they will win something, compete and get close

in the competition. That hasn't materialised in this competition.

They want to see another manager come in. The Welsh FA have to take

responsibility. They need to get this done, don't they? He has had

bad results. He had his problems. Give him a chance, give him a

chance. If not, move on. It's not a case of who else is out there who

will take the job. People said Tony Pulis. He is looking to get back

into club management. That doesn't really matter who is out there next

to take it. I think we have to stick with are Chris. In my heart of

hearts I think that he could get even more from this squad of

players. I think he is the man to take us forward.

And his Chris Coleman the person to lead us for what? I don't think the

F A have got confidence. He might walk away. He has been on trial and

it is not a great situation for a manager to be in. Yes, sometimes

you have to be in those situations, but he might walk away. When you

consider the players that were missing tonight's, with that group

of players, and Craig Bellamy, he said this is the best squad of

players but that Wales have had been around 15 years. I don't know

how you feel about that because you played in a fantastic team. I would

argue very strongly. Potentially, we have got a group of players who

could do very well. After tonight, it has shown we have strength and

depth. Chris Coleman to stay on, yes or no? Yes. Wales's under 21s

were in action today. Let get more. -- let us get more.

That was a good save from Roberts. Almost the ideal start. A mistake

by the men in yellow. Can Wales profit from this? That is a penalty.

A spot kick form Wales. Is that a foul? Yes, it is. Another

penalty for Wales. Lawrence converts this one as well. They

were not smiling last month, but they are now. Here is Laurens again,

the star of the show. -- here is Lawrence again. We can play

football in difficult conditions and create an they have come away

with a good result. There is a new start and a new philosophy when it

comes to passing the ball. So a morale-boosting victory over

Lithuania. Next for Wales, San Marino at home on Tuesday. And if

you want have your say on Wales's performance against Macedonia, you

can call the match commentator. Time is running out for the unsung

hero award. If you know someone who deserves the award, the details are

on your screen. I am looking forward to you on BBC Radio Wales

tomorrow. So am I. It will be interesting. You are off to Belgium,

you are working for BBC Wales. Yes. Man-for-man, they have got one of

the best squads in Europe, if not the world. They can go a long way

in the World Cup in Brazil. Having qualified, will they take their

foot off the gas? They have got some wonderful players. It will be

difficult, but we need to stay out of that dangerous position.

They have been the best team in degree. By far. With the squad and

players they have got, rightly so. The big headache for Chris Coleman,

should he stay in the job, is that he has got to replace Craig Bellamy.

He is the best player Wales has had for the last decade. I would like

to see him stay on board in some way, possibly on the coaching side.

He has got a lot to offer the youngsters. He has been brilliant

for Wales. A every time he has put that the shirt on, he has given it

everything. He has never left anything out. He is outstanding.

Thank you very much indeed, and thank you Craig Bellamy for all the

memories.