WALES coach Robert Page admitted his team had fallen well below the standards they set for themselves as a 2-0 defeat to Iran put them on the brink of World Cup elimination.
Page refused to use Wayne Hennessey's red card as an excuse for the defeat and said Carlos Queiroz's team were well worth their win.
Iran hit the post twice and had a goal disallowed before they finally took the lead eight minutes into stoppage time through substitute Roozbeh Cheshmi's long-range strike, with Ramin Rezaeian adding a breakaway second three minutes later.
Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, so often the architects of Wales' successes down the years, were both disappointing and they now need a victory over England on Tuesday to have any hope of reaching the knockout stages.
Page even appeared to refer to the England game as Wales' 'final' match of the tournament, underlining how difficult the road ahead is for the Dragons from here.
This story is from the November 26, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 26, 2022 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Boy's horror fall as he watched City's FA Cup win drama
WITNESSES THOUGHT TEENAGER WAS DEAD AFTER WEMBLEY PLUNGE
Pep knows City won't coast home in 'toughest' game in front of his side
PEP Guardiola told City players to prove him wrong again with the toughest fixture left in their Premier League run-in.
Mum turned from 'respected' health career to life of drugs and crime
A FORMER NHS auxiliary nurse became a career criminal after she developed a severe drug habit following the birth of her third child.
Four-four-BREW
LIONESS JILL AND PARTNER'S POPULAR COFFEE SHOP ON THE MOVE
Football legend's tasty signing for hotel restaurant
EX-UNITED STAR TO TEAM UP WITH MICHELIN CHEF
Delays in diagnosis leading to more deaths from cancer
GREATER MANCHESTER HOSPITALS VOW TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE
ROCKET MEN
MAYORS PLEDGE NEW TRAIN LINK BETWEEN CITIES, 200 YEARS AFTER WORLD'S FIRST PASSENGER RAILWAY
Alleged killers 'took 170 mile taxi ride to lawyer'
MURDER TRIAL JURY TOLD OF CALL TO SOLICITOR AFTER STABBING
New parking scheme slaps RESIDENTS with tickets
'APPEALS BACKLOG' AFTER FINES ARE INCORRECTLY ISSUED
New life for much-loved old cinema
CHURCH GROUP TO RENOVATE BUILDING FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY USE
