Montenegro gives Wales huge mountain to climb

Published on Friday 3 September 2010 12:28

JOHN TOSHACK feared for Wales' Euro 2012 hopes after a defeat in Montenegro that left him seething about an injury to key player James Collins.

Aston Villa defender Collins went to hospital for an X-ray last night after apparently being elbowed in the face in the second half of a 1-0 loss in Podgorica.

The result was a disappointing start to a qualifying campaign which Wales had entered with much hope and the Collins incident, after a clash with Montenegro defender Miodrag Dzudovic, exacerbated Toshack's woe.

"I don't think you get a fractured jaw or a broken nose, or an eye in the condition his is by falling over on the floor," said Toshack. "Something has obviously happened there."

The loss itself was bad enough for Toshack, who now feels his side must beat Bulgaria next month to have any chance of qualifying from a group that also includes England and Switzerland.

He said: "I think the next game against Bulgaria is now a must-win game, or we are virtually not going to have too much chance, with two supposedly tougher sides, Switzerland and England, coming after that."

The Collins clash occurred on the edge of the Montenegro box as the centre-back pushed forward in an attempt to haul Wales back into the game.

The Welsh had trailed since the 30th minute when Roma striker Mirko Vucinic burst into the area and beat Wayne Hennessey with a shot that smacked the post and went in.

The outstanding Vucinic, linked with both Manchester clubs recently, had earlier headed a glorious chance wide and could easily have claimed a hat-trick in a brilliant display.

Montenegro played with verve and attacking intent throughout but Wales finished strongly and had their best chances late on as substitute Simon Church headed against the crossbar and had another effort disallowed.

Toshack said: "We got to grips a little bit, maybe we were worth something. I think they were pleased to hear the final whistle."