Wales hero Gareth Bale says victory will act as kick-start to campaign

STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Saturday 13 October 2012 00:11

WHILE Scotland’s World Cup hopes look increasingly forlorn following last night’s 2-1 defeat in Cardiff, Wales hero Gareth Bale believes the result can kick-start his country’s 2014 qualification campaign.

A double from Bale secured all three points and a first victory in Group A for Wales despite Scotland having taken the lead through James Morrison in the first half. Star man Bale had the final say in the clash at the Cardiff City Stadium when he won and converted a second half penalty, before grabbing a stunning long-range winner with a minute to go.

Afterwards, Bale said: “We needed it, it’s a kickstart to our campaign, hopefully it can inspire us now for the matches ahead. We all knew coming in it was a massive game for us.”

Wales had gone into the game on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Belgium and a 6-1 humbling against Serbia last month, and Bale added: “We let ourselves down as well as the nation last time out. This time we went a goal down but we fought back like men and it was a great result.”

As for his stunning winning goal, the Tottenham player said: “There was a bit of space in front of me, I drove into it and no one closed me down. Some go in and some don’t.”

Wales manager Chris Coleman, celebrating his first win in the job after five straight defeats since replacing the late Gary Speed, was understandably delighted with Bale’s contribution on a sodden night in Cardiff. “Gareth Bale was outstanding,” said Coleman. “His second goal was superb but he showed real character when he took the penalty to score the first. Aaron Ramsey usually takes our penalties but he stepped aside because Gareth was on fire. It was a swashbuckling performance, again. He’s a special player, we all know that. To think he’s 23 and not even at his peak yet.

“When you’ve got that threat in the team then you always have a chance. We showed great belief, great character and great strength and got what we deserved.”

Coleman felt his team fully merited the three points which took them above the Scots in Group A.

“Overall I thought we were the dominant team,” added the manager. “Over the 90 minutes we deserved to win. We showed great courage to keep going when we were 1-0 down. We never panicked and kept passing it. It’s all about the players who had to produce and did.”

He had some sympathy for opposite number Craig Levein when it appeared the officials had wrongly disallowed a Steven Fletcher goal which would have made it 2-0. However, he added: “Over the course of 90 minutes there is always going to be a bit of controversy.”

Wales are now four points off early pace-setters Belgium and Croatia with three rounds of Group A matches played. Coleman now takes his side to Croatia on Tuesday night, where another three points would put them right back in the mix. And with Bale on their side, anything’s possible.

Taken from the Scotsman