Toshack glad to be back to winning ways after ‘tough’ few days

WALES manager John Toshack and his captain Craig Bellamy were delighted to be back to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at home to Cyprus.

Toshack’s team took a 5-1 hammering from Slovakia on Saturday but hit back with three much-needed Euro 2008 Group D points in Cardiff.

The boss conceded he could not argue about some of the flak which came Wales’ way after their weekend debacle in front of their home fans.

“I suppose some of it might have been justified. It has been a very tough two or three days. We are very, very happy to have these three points.”

Bellamy and his fellow forward Robert Earnshaw were both on the scoresheet — and the captain believes the two of them can form a winning partnership for their country.

“He is an exceptional player with very good movement,” Bellamy said of Earnshaw. “We can move defenders around.”

Not far behind Liverpool striker Bellamy as the match’s standout performer was Everton’s Simon Davies, getting some match action after weeks of being on the fringes for his club.

Jason Koumas headed the first goal before Earnshaw grabbed the second. Bellamy lobbed a superb third in the second half. Cyprus hit back through Yiannakis Okkas late on.

Wales gave MK Dons defender Craig Morgan, 21, his full international debut. The only other change from the side beaten by Slovakia was the inclusion of Ipswich goalkeeper Lewis Price, who won his third cap.

Toshack kept faith with striker Earnshaw despite hauling him off at half-time on Saturday, and was rewarded with a fine poacher’s goal from the Norwich man.

Wales almost went in front inside the first minute. Bellamy raced onto a pass, and pushed the ball away from onrushing goalkeeper Michalis Morfis — who felled him outside the box. Referee Jacek Granat waved play on.

Wales produced some excellent one-touch attacking play and Earnshaw saw an angled drive deflected over the bar.

Davies then produced a fine run and cross and this time it created the breakthrough. He surged down the right and crossed to beyond the far post where Koumas met the ball with a firm downward header.

Six minutes later it was 2-0. Carl Robinson put Bellamy away and he calmly waited for support before squaring the ball for Earnshaw to finish from six yards.

Within a minute of the break Cyprus should have replied when Okkas had a close-range effort well saved by Price, the ball bouncing out to Stathis Aloneftis who missed from 10 yards.

Davies then blocked a Morfis clearance and the ball broke for Earnshaw, 10 yards out. It looked as though Loukas Louka pulled him down, but referee Granat waved away appeals for a penalty.

Cyprus kept coming forward, and Price saved well from a Michalis Konstantinou header.

Then Bellamy was rewarded for his effort with his first Wales goal since Toshack’s first match in February 2005. He took a fine pass from Davies and produced an instant chip from 18 yards which left Morfis stranded.

Wales were guilty of showboating in the closing stages and were punished when Okkas got away on the right to superbly chip Price after 83 minutes.

WALES: Price, Duffy (Edwards 78), Gabbidon, Nyatanga, Bale, Morgan, Robinson, Koumas (Ledley 76), Simon Davies, Bellamy (Parry 90), Earnshaw.

CYPRUS: Morfis, Theodotou, Lambrou, Louka, Satsias (Yiasoumi 84), Michael (Charalambidis 45), Garpozis (Charalambous 45), Makrides, Aloneftis, Konstantinou, Okkas.

Ref: Jacek Granat (Poland).