Georgia 0, Wales 1
Aaron Ramsey hailed a special Wales team after their World Cup qualifying victory against Georgia in Tbilisi.
“We find a way and that is why this team is so special,” said ‘Rambo’. “We found a way to break Georgia down. We wanted to go back to Cardiff with three points and it will be a big game against Ireland.
“We are halfway there. We wanted to finish with two wins. Hopefully we can give our fans something to cheer about on Monday.”
Derby County’s Tom Lawrence’s second-half strike against Georgia kept Welsh hopes of automatic World Cup qualification alive. They are second in Group D, one point behind leaders Serbia and one ahead of third-placed Republic of Ireland with one game to play.
Manager Chris Coleman’s side will qualify automatically for next summer’s tournament in Russia if they beat the Republic in Cardiff on Monday and Serbia fail to overcome Georgia.
“It will be a sensational atmosphere – we welcome the pressure,” said Coleman.
“Ireland will come to party. They won’t fear us, they won’t be afraid. They’ll come to us and expect to get a result and we’ll be up against it.
“We’re on dangerous ground if we go in with a game plan of trying to soak the pressure up for 90 minutes. We are too good to do that.
“We will go and attack, go and score goals.
“We have to do that – it’s our strength. A point would be OK but we’ll go for three points.”
Only one out of Serbia, Wales and Ireland can grab that automatic spot with the group runners-up aiming for a place in the play-offs.
Daryl Murphy scored twice for the Republic in their victory against Moldova, while leaders Serbia suffered a last-gasp 3-2 defeat by Austria.
Wales are now unbeaten in their past nine internationals, winning four and drawing five, and that is their longest run without defeat under Chris Coleman, who took charge in 2012.
Wales recalled Joe Ledley, while Sam Vokes replaced Hal Robson-Kanu in the starting line-up. Aaron Ramsey, earning his 50th international cap, was given the freedom to roam behind Vokes in Gareth Bale’s absence.
The winning goal came after 49 minutes when Lawrence collected a pass from man of the match Ramsey and fired a fierce, swerving shot past goalkeeper Giorgi Loria from 20 yards.
“The players didn’t disappoint,” said Coleman. “It was a tough surface and we found it difficult at times.
“We made some great situations, which we didn’t always capitalise on, but the commitment from the lads was great.
“All we can do is work hard and take care of our business. We have a huge test on Monday against the Republic of Ireland. We have a game plan and will see where it takes us.
“It was always going to be tight in this group and I felt it would always go down to the last game.”
Georgia: Loria, Kakabadze, Kverkvelia, Kashia, Navalovski, Kvekveskiri (Jigauri 76), Merebashvili, Kankava, Gvilia (Khotcholava 89), Qazaishvili, Kvilitaia (Skhirtladze 76).
Subs: Makaridze, Lobzhanidze, Khotcholava, Kiteishvili, Dvalishvili, Chanturia, Kvaskhvadze, Dvali, Hufnagel, Skhirtladze, Aburjania, Jigauri.
Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Chester, Williams, Davies, King, Allen, Ledley (Edwards 81), Lawrence (Woodburn 90), Ramsey, Vokes (Robson-Kanu 74). Subs not used: Taylor, Bradshaw, Maxwell, Brooks, Ampadu, Lockyer, Williams, Ward, Hedges
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano.