A WIN is a win and six points out of nine is a decent return from three games, but Wales will have to improve dramatically on their 2-0 win against Liechstenstein when they play in Germany on Wednesday night.

Liechtenstein may have confused matters with their national anthem – never has God Save the Queen had such a good reception in Cardiff – but this game, played in front of a paltry crowd of 13,656, was lacking any of the pride, passion and intensity so evident in the under-21 clash against England the night before.

The players and manager John Toshack blamed the poor state of the pitch and the lack of atmosphere for their lacklustre display and pointed out, with some justification, that the returning captain, Craig Bellamy, could have scored a hat trick.

The West Ham striker, making his first competitive international appearance for a year after a series of injuries, saw a goal-bound effort palmed onto the bar after just three minutes.

He then had a penalty saved just before half-time and was denied again by the excellent visiting ’keeper Peter Jehle with 20 minutes remaining.

A fully fit Bellamy playing against a ’keeper not having the game of his life could indeed have had three and a 5-0 win would have looked very different.

But, just as they did against Azerbaijan last month at the Millennium Stadium, Wales laboured to a narrow victory against opponents who really should have been brushed aside more easily if they are to have any realistic hope of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, rather than watching it at home on TV as usual.

Any nerves should have been settled after just three minutes when Bellamy’s effort came back off the bar and with Sam Vokes waiting for the pass the off-colour Jason Koumas could only head weakly straight at Jehle.

Liechtenstein rarely threatened the home defence but they could have taken a shock lead in the ninth minute when Peterborough’s Craig Morgan made contact with striker and captain Mario Frich, who went down in the box but surprisingly made no appeal for what replays showed to be a certain penalty.

That major let-off failed to inspire Wales, who had decent efforts from Koumas, with a first-time volley from 20 yards, Bellamy and the impressive Gareth Bale but were struggling in midfield where they lacked any spark of creativity.

Newport’s Chris Gunter, who didn’t enjoy his best display in the red shirt, could and probably should have opened the scoring on 31 minutes with a free header six yards out from a Koumas corner but his poor effort was high and wide.

Simon Davies, who relinquished the captain’s armband to Bellamy, combined well with Koumas seven minutes later and the Wigan midfielder whipped in a cross that just evaded Vokes.

The sparse crowd seemed to be preparing themselves for another long wait for a goal, just as against Azerbaijan, but the deadlock was finally broken three minutes before the break after the best passage of play in the half.

Gunter chipped down the right flank for Davies to chase and his driven cross picked out the industrious David Edwards, who side-footed neatly past Jehle and in off the post from 10 yards.

The feeling of relief was palpable and it should have been 2-0 on 44 minutes when Bale cleverly drew a clumsy tackle from Martin Buchel in the box and Bellamy placed the ball on the spot.

He claimed beforehand that he was the man to solve Wales’ penalty woes but his desperately disappointing strike was easily beaten away by Jehle and he followed Koumas and Bale in missing from 12 yards in successive World Cup matches.

That is not something they will be able to get away with in Mönchengladbach and things didn’t improve much after the break.

Vokes was unlucky to be replaced by Ched Evans five minutes in and Toshack made another baffling change five minutes later when Carl Robinson came on for his 50th cap in place of Ebbw Vale’s Carl Fletcher.

Two like-for-like substitutions didn’t change anything and neither side looked much like adding to the scoresheet.

Liechtenstein had their first effort on goal on 54 minutes, Frich firing well over the top, and Wales only threatened sporadically.

The main instigator was Bale, who got forward much more in the second period. His cross was inches away from Bellamy and Davies on 62 minutes and two minutes later he found Bellamy again but the skipper snatched at the shot and the ball ballooned over.

Koumas drew a good save from star man Jehle from 25 yards and the ’keeper brilliantly tipped over Bellamy’s third great chance on 70 minutes after Evans and Davies combined impressively.

The long-overdue second goal finally came on 80 minutes when Koumas’ corner was met by the head of Evans but it wouldn’t have gone in but for the huge deflection off Frich and has to go down as an own goal.

The game finally won, Bellamy was replaced by Newport’s James Collins, another long-term absentee, who looked assured enough in the short time he was on the pitch.

How Toshack will be praying that both the West Ham stars will be fit for Wednesday’s crucial showdown with the group leaders and hoping for a similarly inspired performance, albeit a different result, as the brave showing in Moscow last month!

Liechtenstein: Jehle, Ritzberger (Christen 66), Gerster, Martin Stocklasa, Martin Buchel, D’Elia, Frick, Polverino (Ronny Buchel 80), Fischer, Burgmeier, Beck.

Subs not used: Benjamin Buchel, Michael Stocklasa, Vogt, Hasler.

Booked: Martin Buchel, Burgmeier, Polverino, D’Elia.

Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, Morgan, Williams, Bale, Davies, Fletcher (Robinson 56), Koumas, Edwards, Bellamy (Collins 81), Vokes (Evans 51).

Subs not used: Myhill, Ricketts, Cotterill, Vaughan.

Booked: Bellamy.

Ref: Thomas Vejlgaard (Denmark). Att: 13,656.

Argus star man: Jehle.