Wales 2 - 1 Montenegro: Wales give Speed first competitive win

Goals from Steve Morison and captain Aaron Ramsey last night gave Wales a first win of their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign at Cardiff City Stadium.

The home side turned in their best display under Gary Speed and were unrecognisable from the side that lost to Australia last month. Morison tapped in the opener in the 29th minute, before Ramsey slotted home after the break. Despite seeing his side pick up a first win in a competitive fixture since October 2009, there was bad news for Speed in the form of the bookings picked up by David Vaughan and Craig Bellamy, which means they will miss Tuesday’s trip to face England at Wembley.

Montenegro pulled a goal back through Stevan Jovetic but they could not find a leveller and now trail England by three points at the top of Group G. Wales took the lead after a composed build-up ended with Vaughan surging into the box and, when keeper Mladen Bozovic failed to hold on to his cross, Norwich striker Morison tapped in only Wales’ second goal of the campaign. They deservedly doubled their lead just five minutes into the second half when the outstanding Gareth Bale turned his marker inside and out before teeing up Ramsey for a simple finish into the left-hand corner. Jovetic then pulled a goal back as he cut inside Chris Gunter to hammer home but Wales held on.

Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Blake, Williams, Taylor, Ledley, Ramsey, Vaughan, Bale, Morison, Bellamy. Subs: Myhill, Danny Collins, Matthews, Allen, Crofts, Robson-Kanu, Earnshaw.

Montenegro: Mladen Bozovic, Balic, Batak, Savic, Zverotic, Vukcevic, Pekovic, Drincic, Jovetic, Djalovic, Vucinic. Subs: Blazic, Jovanovic, Kascelan, Novakovic, Damjanovic, Vladimir Bozovic, Delibasic.Referee: Luca Banti (Italy).