Wales manager Craig Bellamy has called on his players to strive for greater consistency within the game to help his side improve ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash with Montenegro in Cardiff.
Bellamy’s men extended their unbeaten start to the competition to three games with a 2-2 draw in Iceland on Friday, but gave up a two-goal lead.
“We’re looking for consistency in our game,” Bellamy said. “I understand that, but that’s what we’re pushing for for a longer period of time, with or without the ball.
“We’ve managed to put ourselves in a position where we’ve had a two-goal lead in the last two games – we’ve had two big chances in both games to make it 3-0.
Wales wasted two goals ahead of Iceland on Friday.
“It’s a lot easier to be 3-0 than 2-0 and that one goal can make the difference. In a game where the opposition needed to change their intensity, we earned the right.
“There are expectations when you play another team away but we have to match that intensity and then sprint to create angles and get more consistency in recognizing those.
“We can’t allow the team to gain momentum but this is normal. Since then (the Iceland game) we have had several meetings and it is an example of good habits being created through discipline.
“Good habits enable consistency, and if you remain consistent, you can grow.”
Wales are without the suspended Jordan James and Brennan Johnson but there are no new injury concerns.
Bellamy knows that the key to success is consistency.
Tottenham winger Johnson received a one-match ban after picking up his second Nations League yellow card in Reykjavik.
Captain Ben Davis is looking forward to leading the team at the Cardiff City Stadium on Monday and believes expectations have been heightened by Bellamy’s encouraging start in the hot seat.
“We were kind of prepared by how well it went in the first game and how well we played,” the Spurs defender said.
“Suddenly the expectations are so high and every time a new manager comes in you have to adapt and try and learn as a group.
Ben Davis is set to captain Wales against Montenegro.
“We are working hard in difficult conditions. The pitch was quite difficult to play that style of football, but hopefully it will be a good opportunity to get it right again in Cardiff.”
Speaking on the game against Montenegro, Davis said: “In the games we have played so far, getting ahead early has forced the team to make changes.
“I expect them to avoid a similar start to Iceland and to step up and start on their toes like they did against us last time.
“It will be difficult. Turkey has a lot of attacking options and they have had difficulties, but we are ready to attack again.”
Wales vs Montenegro key points
Brennan Johnson misses game due to suspension
Brennan Blow
Wales must do without informing Johnson to serve a one-match ban after the Tottenham winger was booked in Reykjavik.
Johnson scored in seven successive games to put Wales ahead in Iceland and was a constant threat before being substituted at half-time in what Bellamy described as a “precautionary measure”.
Wales have not posed the same threat in Iceland since Johnson’s withdrawal and Bellamy will see no repeat against Montenegro.
I need second help
The same pattern unfolded in Wales’ three games under Bellamy. After a blistering start and impressive first half performance, the intensity dropped in the second half.
Wales held on to win in Montenegro with two goals in the first three minutes, while Iceland were unlucky to not take all three points after falling 2-0 down at half-time.
The lack of minutes that many of the squad currently have at club level could be a factor in maintaining the energy required to perform Bellamy’s all-round style of football.
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Bellamy said it was a ‘no-brainer’ to bring Joe Allen back into the squad after he reversed his decision to retire from international duty.
Midfield concerns
Injuries to skipper Aaron Ramsey and Ethan Ampadu have weakened the Wales midfield ahead of the trip to Iceland.
Jordan James’ second yellow card and subsequent suspension at the Reykjavik event has further increased concerns about that particular area.
Joe Allen, who reversed his decision to retire from the national team, was not fit enough to feature in the 23-man squad for matchday in Iceland. The only other natural central midfielder is Josh Sheehan, who plays for Bolton in League One.
Allen will again feature in midfield for Wales.
No biters
Preston’s Montenegrin striker Milutin Osmajic may have become public enemy number one in Cardiff after biting Blackburn’s Welsh defender Owen Beck in a game at Deepdale last month.
Osmajic was banned for eight games and fined £15,000 for an incident that brought back memories of former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez’s choking antics.
The 25-year-old was suspended for the game against Cardiff after picking up his second Nations League yellow card in Friday’s 1-0 loss to Turkey.
state of play
Turkey have seven points at the halfway stage of the season, putting them in the box for automatic promotion to the top tier of the Nations League.
Wales have five points and Iceland have four points when they travel to Turkey for their second match next month.
Beating bottom-placed Montenegro, who are yet to pick up a point, would be a huge step forward for Wales in securing second place in their group and a place in the promotion play-offs next March.
