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Coleman 'delighted' despite defeat
Wales v Belgium: Chris Coleman blames referee for defeat
Wales manager Chris Coleman claimed the referee made two decisive wrong decisions in his side's 2014 World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium.
Coleman contested the 26th-minute red card to James Collins and the free-kick that led to Belgium's second goal.
"Unless I've forgotten what football is about, it's a contact sport," said Coleman after the 2-0 defeat.
"It was not a red card - both players went in hard for the ball. And it wasn't a free-kick for the second."
Jan Vertonghen stepped up to hammer the free-kick beyond Wales goalkeeper Boaz Myhill to wrap up victory eight minutes from time.
Captain Vincent Kompany had put the dominant visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time in Cardiff.
Belgium looked the superior side from the start, but the early red card for centre-back Collins put them firmly on the front foot.
Collins sees red
- James Collins became the 13th player to be sent off for Wales
- The West Ham centre back was playing his first international since March, 2011
The centre-back lunged at Belgium full-back Guillaume Gillet, who was also off the ground as he went in for a loose ball in midfield.
"It came in a time of the game where we'd found our rhythm and we were troubling Belgium," added Coleman, taking charge of a competitive game for the first time.
"We were not in any trouble. When you're playing against a good team with 11 men it's tough, but when you're down to 10 men it's even harder obviously."
Wales were dealt a blow before kick-off when they lost midfielder Joe Allen to injury, joining an already significant injury list containing Craig Bellamy, Wayne Hennessey, Neil Taylor, Joe Ledley, Andrew Crofts and Jack Collison.
"Conceding just before half-time is always a tough one but I'm very proud of the players," said Coleman, who takes his side to face Serbia on Tuesday.
"I thought they gave everything they had, they really rose to the occasion. We had to be cagey because when we're down to 10 men we can't go gung ho and attack - it would have been a cricket score.
"I was delighted with their effort and endeavour and they kept going until the end. If they show that type of commitment when we've got out strongest team and 11 on the park then we're going to pick points up, no doubt.
"But we're disappointed not to get any points."
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Comment number 127.
Tosh_fan10th September 2012 - 16:13
In fairness the referee displayed a red card within seconds and did not consider the reaction of the opposing player. I said it was a sending off within a second of the challenge. At Half Time, I only heard one person around the tv screens take the view it was not a sending off. Most Welsh supporters and media agree it was a red card. I am confident that our FA will not appeal the sending off.
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Comment number 126.
The Roar10th September 2012 - 15:17
Tosh fan - The challenge was clumsy but it wasn't malicious, the Belgian player was completely unhurt and just rolled around on the floor. Yellow card should have been given under the circumstances. And Bale despite being on the halfway line was clear if he wasn't brought down as the defence were flat. The referee was abysmal and shouldn't be allowed to referee again in these qualifiers.
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Comment number 125.
Tosh_fan10th September 2012 - 13:56
@ 123.The Roar
The only major mistake from the referee was the free kick that led to the second goal. But the sending off was a no brainer. It surprises me that you do not see it for what it was. It was serious foul play which is a red card offence. There was no pro foul on Bale. I may have been shouting for a red at the time but it was around the half way line and a yellow was correct.
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Comment number 124.
The Roar10th September 2012 - 13:44
Billy Rice - Scotland only ever qualify for World Cups when they cheat so I wouldn't hold out any hope of qualifying this time! If Wales are last and Scotland 5th big deal. The Scots rely on picking a squad from the two big teams in the Scottish Pointless League. Teams who get hammered when they're not playing Inverness Caledonian Thistle or Queen of the South every week.
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Comment number 123.
The Roar10th September 2012 - 13:30
I went to the match and must say the referee was abysmal. He should never be allowed to referee an international match again after that display. The red card should have been yellow and his yellow card for a professional foul on Bale should have been red. All 50/50s given to the Belgs and they shouldn't have had the free kick leading to 2nd goal. Wales lost to the ref and a second rate Spain!
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Comments 5 of 127