Bellamy starts Wales reign with draw against Turkey despite Yilmaz red card | Nations League

The day after Craig Bellamy smiled and apologized to a Turkish translator for dragging his words to the end of a response, his passion for the Wales job spilled over onto the pitch. There was an understandable, first-day-at-school nervous energy from Bellamy in the build-up to the game, and no wonder he was excited given the buzz his team exuded. Officially, this was a Nations League opener against a team four places above them in the table, but, put simply, it was Bellamy’s first managerial test.

There was still a hint of the old Bellamy in there – fourth official Sigurd Kringstad was never far from a star – but he must have been delighted with this display. On first impressions, this was a resounding if imperfect performance against a Turkish team who played with 10 men for more than 35 minutes after Baris Alper Yilmaz was sent off.

Bellamy has given convincing hearings since taking over in July and his team have presented a compelling case for his methods. By half-time, Wales had registered twice as many passes as Turkey, almost twice as many touches, five shots to one for the visitors and just under 70% possession. Wales handed Turkey, quarter-finalists at Euro 2024, a one-sided first half to training dummy players as if this was an extension of training. On this evidence, it was hard to believe that Bellamy’s first session with his players was on Monday, after which Bellamy and his staff held meetings to hammer out the plan, which was abundantly clear here.

Bellamy, in immaculate white trainers and a black bomber jacket, was eager to get back to his familiar surroundings. This match, he said, was the beginning of a new story for him and his country. His last game as a player here came 10 years ago, for his boyhood club Cardiff City against Chelsea, where Mohamed Salah shone and Fernando Torres scored the winner. The star player was the only missing piece for Bellamy, whose team attacked with a five-man system high up the pitch, captain Aaron Ramsey, Jordan James and Harry Wilson operating centrally, flanked by Brennan Johnson and Sorba Thomas, a surprise addition. Thomas, who joined from Nantes last month, was making his first appearance since March last year and his first start since June 2022. Seconds into the second half, Thomas’ shot wide.

Thomas had a first-half goal disallowed for an awkward offside position, but Ramsey had Wales’s best chances otherwise. At the end of a sly move that began with Johnson back-heeling the ball to Connor Roberts, Ramsey’s header bounced off his left shoulder and over the bar. Ramsey then came close to converting Thomas’s low corner at the near post. Ethan Ampadu rattled a shot against a post. Wales seemed to relish it, as did the supporters. Bellamy was a joyous figure from the moment Ben Davies, playing left centre-back, fired a cutting diagonal pass into space for Johnson to gallop onto. Bellamy gave Davies a hearty thumbs-up.

Wales did not give up, but Yilmaz brought Turkey’s first meaningful effort home, with a weak header into the roof of Danny Ward’s net. There were a few nervous moments for Ward, now a genuine reserve keeper at Leicester. Bellamy admitted it would be foolish to expect everything to click on his first night, but there were plenty of sharp attacks. Ramsey freed Wilson with a glancing first-time pass just before the half, but Johnson could not get his feet right and fired the ball wide first-time. A minute later, Wilson’s left foot shot inches wide of Mert Gunok’s goal, almost lifting Bellamy off his feet.

Shortly afterwards, the Red Wall’s first tribute to Bellamy came as they chanted the name of their beloved former player and now manager, who succeeded his former team-mate Rob Page. On the face of it, Wales’ task was made a little easier, with Yilmaz sent off for a second yellow card after a late tackle on Neco Williams. Yilmaz’s first yellow card came in the first half after he sought a contretemps with Joe Rodon. The substitutions were attacking, with experienced Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore and Liverpool teenager Lewis Koumas coming on for Ramsey and Thomas.

Within minutes of his introduction, Moore was in disarray, an innocent collision ending with Caglar Soyuncu’s studs in his face. Moore returned to the field with a bandage wrapped around his head, amid roars from the local crowd. Turkey could have taken victory through Abdulkerim Bardakci, but his header from a corner was straight at Ward. There were eight added minutes in which Johnson shot wide and Ampadu attempted an overhead kick, but Wales had to settle for a point after an entertaining evening.