By Paul Jones
Ben Davies admitted Wales had plenty of work to do after being held 0-0 by Albania in their final Euro 2020 warm-up game.
Wales drew a blank in front of goal for the second successive game after losing 3-0 away to France on Wednesday.
Robert Page’s squad start their European Championship campaign against Switzerland in Baku on June 12.
“There are plenty of things to work on after that game,” said Tottenham defender Davies, who skippered Wales with Gareth Bale on the bench until the final 20 minutes.
“We had a plan, but it didn’t go exactly as we prepped for.
“There is a lot to work on this week, but I’d much rather things go wrong in this game than in the tournament.
“I don’t think there’s any panic, but this highlights a few things where we need to do a lot better.
‘It was always about next week’s game.’ – Rob Page
Edrych ymlaen i #Euro2020 wedi’r gemau cyfeillgar
FT | Cymru 0-0 Albania pic.twitter.com/ASL1oIHqaW— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) June 5, 2021
Interim boss Page opted for a formation with Aaron Ramsey deployed in a false nine role and David Brooks and Tyler Roberts utilised wide of him.
But Wales failed to put any pressure on the Albania defence until a second-half change of system and the introduction of Kieffer Moore and Bale to their attack.
Moore, who has fallen out of favour under Page in starting only two of his eight games in charge, and Neco Williams went close in the latter stages but Wales were unable to find a winner.
“Any systems we can play are options,” said Davies, who started his first game since March 18 after a calf problem.
“It was pretty clear to see in the second half when we much more dominant.
“It’s another way of playing. But it’s not to say the way we played in the first half won’t work against someone else.
“It’s another clean sheet and I thought the second half was much better even if we didn’t get the goal we wanted.”
👏🏴 Ymlaen i #Euro2020 pic.twitter.com/eYfSQ0CGux
— ⚽ Sgorio (@sgorio) June 5, 2021
Manchester United winger Daniel James and Luton midfielder Joe Morrell missed the game through illness and injury, respectively.
James has been laid low by a bug and Morrell has some bone bruising from a kick, but Page said both players would be on Monday’s flight to Baku.
Page said: “They’re both on the grass tomorrow and they’ll all be on the plane.
“It’s been frustrating because we’ve not really been able to get everybody in the starting 11 together, but we don’t want to show our hand either.
“The first half I thought we were a little bit off it, the second half we were much better.
“The change did help, it got us further up the pitch and we got the ball in more dangerous positions. It was a beneficial exercise.”
Wales’ fans returned to cheer them off to Euro 2020 with a hit-and-miss performance where Liverpool’s Williams came closest to giving the hosts victory.
Kieffer Moore has made a massive difference to this Wales performance.
— Phil Blanche (@philblanche) June 5, 2021
Page made eight changes from the side beaten in France on Wednesday while Albania named only four of the starting line-up from their last World Cup qualifier, so it was no surprise the game which followed was a particularly cagey affair.
Rey Manaj blasted the one real chance of the opening period over the bar after shaking off Chris Mepham, before Wales stepped up their second-half performance following a change in shape at the break.
It still took them 74 minutes to register the first shot on target of the match, with Williams hammering Matt Smith’s tee-up goalwards from 25 yards and testing Gentian Selmani.
KMoore’s header from Gareth Bale’s exquisite deep cross followed moments later and proved easier pickings for the goalkeeper in the second of the match’s two shots on goal, before an unscathed Wales embarked on a full-time lap of honour in front of their fans ahead of their departure for the European Championships this weekend.