Wales 0 Bulgaria 1: Ivelin Popov's winner leaves Wales' Euro 2012 campaign in tatters

By NEIL MOXLEY

Oh no! Wales forward Steve Morison puts his hands to his head in the clash against Bulgaria


A new caretaker boss and a new stadium to play in.

But the same old familiar story for Welsh football as Brian Flynn's hopes of taking over from John Toshack suffered a huge dent last night.

A well-taken Ivelin Popov goal three minutes into the second-half ensured there would be no fairytale start to Flynn's two-game spell as the country's interim boss on an evening of yet more false promise in Cardiff.

For all the pre-match talk about goals and attacking verve, Flynn has quickly discovered what his predecessor Toshack had to contend with as the Bulgarians simply proved too street-wise for the hosts.

There is no question that the group of players he has inherited have the desire to do their country proud.

But just as happened in Podgorica during what was to be Toshack's final match in charge, there is no substitute for a smidgen of extra know-how at international level.

Wales discovered that the hard way in the Balkans. And on their own turf last night Stiliyan Petrov's visitors found a touch of class that told.

'Painful is my way of describing it,' said Flynn, 'that wasn't part of the script.


On target: Bulgaria's Ivelin Popov


'The training has been fantastic but you do find out things in the heat of the battle. And what I've learned is who performs in that heat. Our hopes of qualifying are severely damaged by this.

'It's going to be really tough now.'

Flynn has been given a two-game mandate by the Football Association of Wales who are keen to promote the current boss of the country's Under-21 side to the major post.
The caretaker admitted that it had not been a good night for him, either.

'I'm in charge for two matches,' he said, 'and my plan was to get six points. It hasn't happened. The next step in the job process begins after the Switzerland game.
'Personally, yes, I believe this has dented my hopes. I've had a head start but I've been reigned back a little bit. I absolutely believe that I will be a better manager for this experience.'

In truth there had been little to choose between these two sides - both without a point before last night's clash - for most of the evening.

But Popov's decisive strike - showing neat footwork and an equally composed finish - brought the visitors triumph.

Perhaps it should have been expected that little would change. Flynn had at least attempted to put a smile on the face of Welsh football with his up-beat pre-match message.

But one look at his team-sheet spoke volumes. Apart from the loss of Craig Bellamy through injury, this was the same group of players that had lost in Podgorica. No manager in the world can affect change that quickly.

To rub salt into open wounds, Flynn was hit with a late blow when right-back Chris Gunter was shown a red card by Sweden referee Jonas Eriksson after he he prevented a late Bulgarian breakaway from adding a second.

It would be too harsh on this set of players to say that they lack heart.

But there was almost a depressing sense of inevitability about the evening once Popov had found a route to goal. Bulgaria, instead of looking nervous, looked calm and could have added to the margin of victory in the final few moments as Wayne Hennessey excelled.


That's an order! Wales coach Brian Flynn tries to make his point to Gareth Barry and Co


After playing to a near-empty Millennium Stadium, it must have been heartening for the Wales players to have seen a decent turn-out at the City of Cardiff Stadium.
There has been a move towards playing at Cardiff City's new home following a successful experiment 11 months ago against Scotland.

The improvement in the atmosphere from the nation's flagship stadium was marked. It would no doubt have helped the mind-set of Flynn's players that they had produced a sparkling first-half performance against the Scots.

They wasted a great opportunity to put a stamp onto the evening's entertainment inside the opening ten minutes. Gareth Bale, who these days seems to be drowning in a sea of compliments, was the architect. A short ball inside from the left flank found Joe Ledley who, in turn, fed Morison.

The Millwall man stepped over the ball, allowing Chris Gunter clear sight of goal, having chased energetically up the pitch from right-back. The defender took the shot early and it flashed narrowly wide. It was an encouraging start.


Tussle: Ivan Ivanov (L) battles it out with Gareth Bale


But Bulgaria caused problems of their own. Petrov saw one effort blocked by Wayne Hennessey and blazed another volley over. At the other end, Bale ruined the chance to celebrate his award as Wales' player-of-the-year by producing an air-shot when Joe Ledley's cross needed simply to be slotted home from six yards

Wales started slowly after the interval. Gunter had to block another Martin Petrov effort with his body before Bulgaria took the lead.


Not near enough: Wales forward Steve Morison goes close with a headed effort


Ivelin Popov was being used by Matthaus just off the main striker and his intelligent movement had caused Wales problems all night.


It was Georgi Peev who fed the forward from the right and he dragged the ball away from James Collins, and nicked it away from Sam Ricketts too, creating just enough space for himself to beat Hennessey at his left-hand post, the ball entering the net via the upright.

David Vaughan sent Steve Morison scampering down the right but Nikolay Mihaylov prevented the Millwall man from claiming his first international goal.

It was to be as close as Wales were to come as their attacks became increasingly frenetic. By the final whistle, Bulgaria could have been further ahead.

As it was, Gunter will have to sit out Tuesday's trip to Basel. He went crashing into Dimitar Rangelov in the dying seconds and became the first Welshman in six years to be sent-off, the last being Robbie Savage against Northern Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.

It was a depressing end to an evening that had promised much. Not for the first time as far as Wales football supporters are concerned.




source :dailymail