Gone In 60 Seconds: Wales Lose Bale And Taylor For Serbia Clash

Chris Coleman insists Wales will find a way to get a result in Serbia after a minute of madness against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

The Dragons will be without talisman Gareth Bale and Neil Taylor for the trip to Belgrade as they face an uphill task qualifying for the World Cup in Russia.

The 0-0 draw left Wales in third place four points behind Ireland and new leaders Serbia at the half-way point of the group.

But three of Wales’ final five games are away including the game in Belgrade in June

And Wales will face the Serbians without Bale and Taylor after the craziest 60 seconds under Chris Coleman’s reign.

Bale will be banned after picking up his second booking of the qualifiers after catching John O’Shea with his studs as he lunged for a cross on 68 minutes.

It is the first time in over three years the Real Madrid player will be unavailable for a competitive game for his country.

“Take Gareth Bale out of any team and we are going to miss that,” said Coleman. “At our best we know we are a team that can play against anybody and win.

“We will have to find another way and we will. We can still go to Serbia and bring something back. It will be a good test but it’s a game we look forward to.

“It’s at the end of the season, in the summertime, so between now and then we’ll have to see who we have got.”

Then moments later left-back Taylor was shown a straight red after a reckless tackle on Seamus Coleman that saw the Ireland skipper stretchered off with a broken leg.

The ex-Swansea City defender  – not known as a vindictive player – looked stunned as he was given his marching orders.

Taylor’s dismissal finally galvanised an Irish side – missing several players – who had until then look limited and had never threatened Wayne Hennessey’s goal.

James McClean had a couple of efforts blocked and in the final seconds a few crosses caused a nervous Hennessey a few problems.

But Wales could still stolen the win even with 10-men with Bale sending one effort inches past the post.

The ex-Tottenham player had come close earlier as Wales dominated possession without too often threatening the Irish goal.

And Wales will wonder why Glenn Whelan was not sent off just before the break after catching Stoke team-mate Joe Allen in the throat with his elbow.

Coleman added: “The most important thing is Seamus Coleman. We’re told that it’s not so good which we are sorry for.

“Neil is not really that type of player.

“The game itself was a typical British derby and at 11-11 we controlled the game. We were never in any trouble and looked like the team that were going to create and score.

“We get a man sent off and it changes everything. We are in Ireland’s backyard and we were up against it for 25 minutes.

“I am proud of the players from controlling the game we had to see the game out which we did. We dug in and our focus was fantastic.

“Neil is in the dressing room and he is quiet, despondent and disappointed. He is not that type of player as he had has a serious injury himself.

“I get the feeling people think it is a huge disappointment to come here and take a point. I know where we are in the group.

“There are still five games left to play, we’re still unbeaten with four draws and one win. A couple of those draws turn them into wins and it changes your life, but it’s ifs, buts and maybes.

“I cannot look at our players and say you need to give us more. Little bit of luck here and there, little bit of quality in that final third and I think the result would have been a lot different.

“But overall we will take the point.”

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