By Hannah Blackwell
Gemma Grainger has insisted Wales can still stay in the top tier of the Nations League despite suffering her biggest defeat as manager in front of her own fans.
The Wales boss was left looking for crumbs of comfort after her team were demolished, 5-1, by a slick Denmark side at the Cardiff City Stadium.
The result leaves Wales bottom of Group A3 with no points and six goals against, having scored just once.
That was a typically sharp strike from Jess Fishlock, a reminder of her enduring quality but also a pointer to the fact that the veteran striker has no younger challenger in the squad who looks remotely capable of replacing the 36-year-old when she calls it a day.
https://twitter.com/BBCSport/status/1706900221794672934?s=20
That must be the concern for Grainger – that despite the advances the team have made since she took charge, there are few players who seem capable of decisive moments in big matches.
Players such as Danish star Pernille Harder, who scored twice in a dominant opening period for the visitors and went on the complete a comfortable hat-trick.
“We’re not a top-12 team but we’ve got to stay focused on taking everything out of our games,” said Grainger.
“I want our performances to get better and we know what we need to stay in League A. We know what we need to finish in third place and I’m very focused on that and performing in every game.”
"It's always hard to take when the scoreline is 5-1"
A very honest assessment from midfielder Jess Fishlock after Wales' defeat to Denmark last night ⚽#BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/Txi8eQ5Hki
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) September 27, 2023
Denmark stand three points clear after following up their victory against Germany with a win that hardly stretched them.
Harder had two goals in the first 11 minutes, first from the penalty spot after Rhiannon Roberts fouled Amalie Vangsgaard, and then tapping in a Frederikke Thogersen centre.
Fishlock gave Wales hope with a thumping finish early in the second half.
Tough evening for Gemma Grainger’s side.
League A was always going to be tough but Cymru miles off it 1st half.
Rise in intensity early 2nd period, but couldn’t last.
Too many off form.
Nothing to really change it from the manager and not good enough at either end. pic.twitter.com/vawZSsuSgi— Laurence Mora (@Mora_sport) September 26, 2023
But Thogersen then turned in a Sofie Svava cross and late on substitute Sanne Troelsgaard headed home before Harder completed her hat-trick, pouncing on the rebound when Signe Bruun hit the bar.
“We are in League A and I want to be in League A,” Grainger added.
“I don’t want us to lose but I want to have these nights because ultimately these are the nights that are going to create conversation and stretch us.
“These are the nights that are going to take us closer to where we want to be.
“The level we want to play at, our players need to feel that level consistently and that’s what these games are going to bring us.”
In Case You Missed It
Gemma Grainger Insists Wales Are Not Firing Blanks As Denmark Become The Target
Read here https://t.co/TXSMNgTJGu pic.twitter.com/n5wCD6YyQC
— Dai Sport (@Dai_Sport_) September 26, 2023
