By Gareth James
Craig Bellamy expressed pride over Wales’ win in Montenegro after facing what he said were the toughest conditions in his career.
Torrential rain in Niksic saw the City Stadium pitch cut up from the early stages, with players regularly losing their footing and the ball skidding everywhere on the sodden surface.
Craig Bellamy says the conditions during Wales’ 2-1 win against Montenegro were the toughest he has ever been in ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/bV7hOKcL0S
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 9, 2024
There was no let-up from the elements throughout a full-blooded 90 minutes which saw Wales emerge 2-1 Nations League winners, Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson scoring inside the first three minutes.
“These are the toughest conditions I’ve been in,” said Bellamy, who had started his reign with a goalless home draw against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey on Friday.
“I’m extremely proud. I love this group, I really do.
“Nothing about coming here has been easy, you could have had a lot of excuses about this trip.
“The change of venue (from Podgorica to Niksic at the end of last month), the travel here, a bus driver who took his time, the conditions… but sometimes you learn from it.
“There is a reason why this group have qualified for major tournaments. It wasn’t a football match. The conditions weren’t going to allow it.
“Who will win the battle? Who will win second balls? That’s what it turned out to be.
“I take a lot of satisfaction as you show another side. This was not part of our plan.
“We saw after five minutes the pitch tore up and then it becomes about who can win the battle.
“It was close at times. It was a boxing match. There were two teams on their feet and we came out on top. Sometimes you take more pride from these wins.”
Craig Bellamy has his first win as Wales boss ✅#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/ugmNYWYY0f
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) September 9, 2024
Bellamy said the conditions also put paid to the bomber jacket he was wearing on the touchline.
He said: “My summer bomber jacket is gone. I need to prepare a bit more for the seasons.
“I had to change clothing. I couldn’t even wear trainers here. Tough evening.”
Wales’ next Nations League test is in Iceland – beaten 3-1 away by Turkey on Monday – on October 11, before the return game against Montenegro at Cardiff City Stadium three days later.
Bellamy will hope to have injured quintet Daniel James, David Brooks, Nathan Broadhead, Rabbi Matondo and Wes Burns available for those fixtures.
“There are five players to come in who aren’t here,” said Bellamy.
“As a coach to have a lot of numbers and talent really excites you. Last night I was really excited about the game, but also sad as it ends tomorrow.
“What happens Tuesday? They’re all going to leave me and I don’t want them to go.
“It’s been such an incredible 10 days. I really couldn’t be more proud of them. I love them.
“They’re a great group and I’ve learned a lot off them.
“As much as I hope they’re kind, they say they like working with me and enjoy my company. We put our bodies on the line.”
https://twitter.com/BBCSportWales/status/1833239044051870099
Moore’s opener was timed at 37 seconds – Wales’ fastest goal since 2003 – and ended their longest scoreless streak of four games since September 2012.
Driton Camaj set up a grandstand finish such an entertaining encounter deserved, but Wales held on for three points after their opening Group B4 draw against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey.
Despite the early advantage, Wales could not rest easy in the face of a twin-pronged attack from their aggressive Montenegro hosts and the Niksic elements.
There were numerous crunching challenges on a surface that inevitably cut up after incessant rain had raised questions earlier in the day whether the game would be played.
Niksic was hosting its first men’s senior international after Podgorica’s national stadium pitch had been declared unplayable by UEFA.
Craig Bellamy says the conditions during Wales’ 2-1 win against Montenegro were the toughest he has ever been in ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/bV7hOKcL0S
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 9, 2024
It meant Wales’ 800-plus following headed just over 50 kilometres north of the Montenegrin capital to see if new boss Bellamy could build on an impressive start against Turkey.
Bellamy had promised changes after that goalless draw in Cardiff and, in the event, made five.
Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow, just a month short of his 34th birthday, became Wales’ oldest debutant since World War II, with Lewis Koumas and Ollie Cooper making first starts.
Moore and Chris Mepham also came in as skipper Aaron Ramsey, Brennan Johnson, Danny Ward, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas dropped out.
Montenegro recalled former Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic, their all-time leading scorer but currently without a club at the age of 34, after their opening Nations League defeat in Iceland.
Wales ended their goal drought with the first attack as Moore pounced on pinball in the Montenegro penalty area to slot home his 13th international goal off a post.
https://twitter.com/Cymru/status/1833243907729064323
It quickly got better for Wales as Wilson picked up Neco Williams’ pass to deliver a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner past a startled Milan Mijatovic.
Ethan Ampadu was booked in a frenetic opening and Montenegro almost halved the deficit when Nikola Krstovic sent Stefan Mugosa’s cross inches wide.
They went even closer when Ampadu lost possession and Jovetic, spotting Darlow straying outside his area, struck the crossbar with an audacious effort from inside his own half.
Darlow made a fine close-range stop from Jovetic and as the ball broke Ben Davies displayed all his experience to retreat and deny Camaj with a superb goal-line clearance.
https://twitter.com/sgorio/status/1833216891399155775
Johnson was introduced before the break for the limping Connor Roberts and stung Mijatovic’s palms as the hour mark approached.
Wales should have sealed matters when Wilson found Davies and his pass across the face of goal left Moore with the simplest of tap-ins, yet he blazed over from five yards.
Montenegro refused to surrender and Vladimir Jovovic struck an upright from 20 yards, with Krstovic putting over the rebound.
Darlow made an excellent save from Jovetic, earning a handshake in the process from the veteran forward, but the goal Montenegro had been threatening arrived after 73 minutes.
Krstovic raced clear and Camaj tapped home into an empty net, but late home pressure proved in vain.
https://twitter.com/Cymru/status/1833216455065710748
