Toshack: Bellamy was 'unbelievable'

Last updated : 13 September 2007 By Wales Reporter

Captain Fantastic
"You normally have 22 players battling away out there, pretty evenly matched. This game saw 21 players and one who was just unbelievable," Toshack said.

"It was a scintillating performance - I cannot recall the last time I saw such an individual performance."

Craig Bellamy missed the home defeat by Germany becuase his new born daughter was taken ill. He was able to make this trip and he joined up with the squad and travelled to Slovakia.

"The Slovaks played a high defensive line and that suited us, because we are essentially a counter-attacking team," Bellamy said.

"I just wished I could have got three, I have scored two a few times. But this was special."

Toshack was in no doubt who the man of the match was. His captain performed superbly as Wales kept alive their chance of finishing third in the group.

"Craig gave us that result. His pace and willingness to run was stunning," Toshack said.

"The goals were very special and came after the team had gone behind early on.

"But that was an equally outstanding team performance. Overall I was very pleased with the outcome.

"Coming after a very disappointing display and defeat by Germany on Saturday, in which we had plenty of problems against a very good side, that was the perfect response."

It was the first time Wales had scored five goals in an away match in 11 years, and was also sweet revenge fro the 5-1 defeat Slovakia handed them in Cardiff last year.

"We do not often score five goals away from home, very few away teams in international football do," Toshack said.

"But we remember how we felt after losing to Slovakia 5-1 in Cardiff.

"We played the same system this time as we did in Cardiff against them, but this time the chances went in and in Craig we had the outstanding performance of the night.

"I suppose people will look at this result as a surprise, but then so was the 5-1 defeat we suffered at Slovakia's hands.

"But this was all about Bellamy and his attributes.

"He is our captain, our inspiration - even if no one really expected a performance like that. He was terrific."