Wales maintain 100% Euro record

Azerbaijan 0, Wales 2 (result)

Wales maintained their 100% in their Euro 2004 qualifying group to take a giant step towards the finals in Portugal.

Goals from Gary Speed and John Hartson secured a hard-fought victory for Mark Hughes’ men, who have now gone eight games unbeaten in the last 14 months.

Barnard was booked as the temperature rose and Delaney – a doubt before the game with a calf problem – was replaced by Rhys Weston with 19 minutes left, the singing from 500 Welsh fans who had made the long journey now resounding around the stadium.

A rare Barnard error on the left let in substitute Ismaylov to race at Jones from a tight angle, but he saw his fierce shot saved superbly by the Southampton ’keeper.