Wales take on Scotland in a World Cup qualifying clash on Friday knowing that nothing less than three points will do. Chris Coleman’s side are currently bottom of Group A but victory will see them leapfrog the Scots and regain some pride (Wales 7/4, Scotland 17/10, draw 9/4 – Match Prices).
This was always going to be a vital match for Wales as they look to develop under new boss Coleman and a clash with their Celtic rivals will show just how they are progressing.
A 2-0 home defeat to Belgium and a 6-1 thrashing away to Serbia was not the ideal start but those two nations are arguably the strongest in a tough group and may well qualify for the finals in Brazil.
Scotland have not exactly been pulling up any trees themselves and, with two draws from their opening two games, will also have their work cut out to reach the South American showpiece.
A game between any of the home nations is always a feisty affair and this one should be no different, with vital points and bragging rights on offer.
It could be argued that the Welsh have nothing to lose as they are not expected to make it out of the group and victory over the Scots and Macedonia might be as good as it could get for the Principality outfit, with Croatia completing a formidable looking group (Belgium 6/4fav – Group A Winner).
Wales have clearly got problems in front of goal and a return of just one from their last five games must be a worry for the management.
Assistant coach John Hartson has played down the fact that their last goal in open play came nearly a year ago, suggesting that he would be more worried if they were not creating chances.
But the game is about putting the ball in the back of the net and unless they can find someone to do it on a regular basis, Wales are always going to struggle.
The men in red do have one ace in the pack in Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and reports claim that the left winger will shake off a heel problem to take his place in the starting line-up, while full-back Adam Matthews has also been tipped to recover in time to play.
But Coleman does have a number of absentees to deal with as Craig Bellamy, Neil Taylor, James Collins and Jack Collison are all missing.
A football nation the size of Wales can ill-afford to have too many of its best players absent and they will be up against it on Friday.
But they do have a decent record in this fixture as Scotland’s victory in the Carling Nations Cup in Dublin back in May 2011 was the first time they had triumphed over the Welsh since February 1984.
Of the two mangers on show, Craig Levein is possibly under the greater pressure as expectation north of the border is always huge despite the resources available to the coach.
Wales goalkeeper Jason Brown alluded to the fact that Levein’s decision to recall Steven Fletcher proves the stress that he is under to get results – and he has a valid point.
Fletcher had been in the international wilderness for 18 months, after making himself unavailable for a match with Northern Ireland in early 2011, but will be back in the starting line-up in Cardiff on Friday as Levein knows he can bring goals to the party.
And the Scots certainly need his goalscoring prowess in the side as they have found the net just once in their first two qualification games.
Levein will also have to cope with a few missing stars after Jordan Rhodes and Robert Snodgrass were forced to withdraw through injury, while Grant Hanley pulled out on Monday.
Celtic winger Kris Commons has been called up to the squad having not played for the national side for more than a year, while striker Steven Naismith will miss the match and Tuesday’s clash with Belgium because of suspension.
Having been placed in such a strong group, it always looked likely that the British sides would have to play out of their skin to qualify for the World Cup, but victory over one of the great rivals would at least give both Scotland and Wales something to cheer about.
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