'Marvellous' Tottenham stars scores for international side as manager makes 'didn't like it' claim

Two Tottenham stars were in international action with Wales on Saturday evening as the Dragons defeated Kazakhstan in their first World Cup qualifier. Dan James put Wales ahead early on, but they went in at the break level after a debatable penalty decision.

In the second half, Spurs favourite Ben Davies headed home a wickedly delivered corner, and Rabbi Matondo made sure of the three points after coming off the bench.

WalesOnline rated the players from the win, and Davies got an eight, with the explanation: “Solid as ever, and produced a marvellous header to put his side back in front.” Meanwhile, Brennan Johnson got a six after a quiet night. The report added: “Didn't do an awful lot wrong, but this was a quiet outing from the Spurs man. Subbed.”

Wales will be pleased to get their campaign off to a winning start, although they showed signs of that first game back rust that you sometimes see with international teams. Wales boss Craig Bellamy said after the game: “It was what I felt it was going to be. Of course, I would have liked maybe a surprise and it being very, very comfortable. But I didn't seen anything from them that was going to lead that way.

"It was a hard-fought win. Of course we had a lot of possession, a lot of control of the game, but you just got to be wary of their counter-attack at times and show the respect it deserves. Our control in positions were good at times. We were able to stop them. But once or twice they were still able to go. I didn't feel we were living on the edge. But I felt it was going to be a tough game and I still felt it was a tough game."

Bellamy added: “The important part for us is 'do not get bored of keeping the ball. I'm asking the players to play completely different to what they've done before. Down here as well you very rarely see a team pass, pass, move, move, wait, and you've got to wait for those moments then hit. Would I like it in one? Of course I would. Do I look at possession and say 'we had 70-odd today and that was the dream'. No.

"But we have to be able to draw them out and in order to do that we need to be patient with the ball, and supporters need to be patient as well. For me it's something different of maybe what's been asked of Wales before, and I'm not here to see this is right and that was wrong. There's no right or wrong. But how I look at the game, it was going to be a test for them. A test for the crowd and a test for you [the media] as well. I still hear the shouts of 'get it forward'. I know. I want to. But I'm not hitting it up there when we have the numbers here.

"If you're not coming then we move it. Keep the ball moving. For years we've seen that done to us. I didn't like it. I didn't like it. Maybe Kazakhstan players liked it. I don't know. But I much prefer our players being on the ball than not." Wales are next in action on Tuesday night when they face North Macedonia.

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