Inexperienced Wales held to embarrassing draw by Gibraltar after insipid display

A youthful and experimental Wales team were held to a goalless draw by Gibraltar after a vapid and lacklustre display against the 203rd-best team in the world.

It was a game devoid of both quality and chances. At the very least it served as an exercise in getting players minutes at international level in what Rob Page is still deeming a transitional phase. There was the odd chance, a couple of decent saves from the Gibraltar goalkeeper, but Wales just didn't do enough to win the game.

All things considered, it was an embarrassing result for a Wales team which, despite missing several senior stars, would have expected to win this fixture comfortably. Instead, it was a disjointed display with very little structure, verve or imagination.

Josh Sheehan, in his sixth appearance, captained the inexperienced team on his first start, with Joe Low getting his first senior cap at centre-back and Jay Dasilva making his bow at left wing-back.

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It was an opportunity for these fringe first-team players to really grab their opportunity and show Rob Page just what they are capable of against a team who, before this, were on a 13-game losing streak. And the game settled into a nice pattern for Wales, who dominated the ball as expected against inferior opposition.

But Gibraltar, who were playing hosts at the Estadio Algarve, were organised and proved tough to break down in the early exchanges, despite allowing the visitors so much of the ball. Wales were reduced to a few half chances, including Low heading over the bar from a corner early on.

The best chance for Wales came through Liam Cullen. The Swansea forward produced a smart move with his back to goal to swivel and hit a low shot from the edge of the area, but Jaylan Hankins made a terrific low save down to his right.

After the break, chances were equally as few and far between as they were in the first half and Page called for the cavalry before the hour, introducing Daniel James, Kieffer Moore and Brennan Johnson in a bid to break the deadlock.

There were other firsts cap, too. Lewis Koumas came on not long after, with the Liverpool youngster, son of former West Brom, Cardiff and Wales midfielder Jason, capping off a wonderful year at club level with his first senior Wales appearance off the bench. And Leeds United's Charlie Crew also got his first cap under his belt too.

But it was Koumas who came closest to putting Wales in front when he made a clever run down the edge of the box, skinning a defender in the process, before fizzing a left-footed shot across goal. Again, Hankins was equal to it, this time palming away low down to his left.

It seemed to put a pep in Wales's step, because seconds later Dasilva's cross from Johnson at the back post and the Tottenham man produced an acrobatic scissor kick which blazed back across goal and wide of the mark.

As the clock ticked past the 90, James whipped a free-kick into the roof of the net and that, unfortunately for Wales and their travelling fans, was as close as they got.

It was nowhere near good enough from Wales, but at the very least Page will have gleaned more of an insight into these youngsters and previously fairly unknown quantities on the international stage. That being said, Wales should have done far more to win the game, against a team who have not won since 2022, than they did.

Wales XI: A. Davies (King 46); Stevens (Johnson 60), Low, Cabango, Dasilva, Sheehan, Savage (Crew 78); Burns, Colwill (Moore 60), Matondo (D. James 60); Cullen (Koumas 73).

Subs not used: Ward, Baker, J. James, Broadhead.