Main talking points as Wales travel to Montenegro in Nations League

Phil Blanche, PA, Podgorica

Wales are away to Montenegro in the Nations League on Monday night.

Craig Bellamy’s first match in charge ended in a 0-0 draw at home to Turkey on Friday, while Montenegro were beaten 2-0 in Iceland.

Here, Phil Blanche looks at the main talking points surrounding the Group B4 fixture in Niksic.

First impressions

The Bellamy era began in positive fashion against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey at Cardiff City Stadium.

Although Wales failed to score, there was an intent and vibrancy about the performance as players instantly adapted to Bellamy’s methods.

Bellamy will hope that intensity can be repeated on foreign soil just three days after putting so much into the Turkey game.

Scoreless streak

Wales’ failure to make the most of their opportunities against Turkey stretched their scoreless streak to four games – their worst run since 2012.

The Dragons have not scored since a 4-1 Euro 2024 semi-final play-off win against Finland in March, failing to find the net against Poland, Gibraltar, Slovakia and Turkey since.

Bellamy promised changes after the Turkey draw and ending Wales’ goal drought will be a clear priority.

Koumas chance?

One striker keen to show his goal-scoring ability is Lewis Koumas, the Liverpool teenager who has hit the Championship ground running at the start of a Stoke loan spell.

Koumas made his competitive international debut as a second-half substitute against Turkey and did not look out of place.

It may be asking too much of the 19-year-old to solve Wales’ scoring problems right now, but fans are already excited by Koumas’ arrival on the international scene.

Pitch switch

Montenegro are hosting a men’s senior international in Niksic, around 45 minutes north of the capital Podgorica, for the first time.

The decision was made only two weeks ago after UEFA ruled Podgorica’s National Stadium was unplayable because of craters on the surface and the large areas of grass that were missing.

Niksic’s City Stadium only holds around 5,000 and it remains to be seen whether playing there means Montenegro have lost a significant chunk of their home advantage.

Bad memories

Wales’ last visit to Montenegro in September 2010 ended in defeat and a managerial departure within days.

Marko Vucinic’s first-half finish proved the winner in a Euro 2012 qualifying tie in Podgorica, a result which signalled that end of John Toshack’s six-year reign.

Wales did win the reverse fixture 2-1 in Cardiff 12 months later, but lost the only other meeting between the two countries – a 2-1 friendly defeat in Podgorica in August 2009.