2014 World Cup qualifier preview: Wales v Scotland

Steven Fletcher

Friday nights in Cardiff tend to be lively, but the locals will be joined by several thousand Scots this week.

The travelling Tartan Army will be confident of leaving the Cardiff City Stadium in buoyant mood before hitting the capital city to celebrate long into the night – rather than be left to drown their sorrows.

There’s a renewed sense of hope and optimism among the long-suffering supporters; not because Craig Levein has been handed his P45 – the under-fire coach is still in charge despite failing to beat either Serbia or Macedonia last month – but due to recalls for two of their best players.

Sunderland striker Steven Fletcher – who was named the Premier League Player of the Month for September after scoring five goals in his first five games with the Black Cats – agreed to end his two-year international exile, while Scotland captain and Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher also returns to the fold after showing considerable progress in his bid to combat illness.

The two Fletchers have the talent to get Scotland’s qualification hopes back on track by making a significant contribution against a Wales side who have struggled badly since Chris Coleman was appointed manager in January.

A 6-1 defeat at the hands of Serbia in their most recent qualifier represented a nadir for a national team which had looked so vibrant under the leadership of the late Gary Speed this time last year.

Coleman faces mounting pressure and criticism if his side are beaten again on Friday, particularly as they are up against another British nation on home soil, but the 42-year-old has received support from Speed’s father Roger, who called on the Wales supporters to back the current boss.

"Get behind Chris Coleman. For me and Gary, please," he appealed. "I wouldn't like the job he's got to do to take over after Gary because Gary was doing an absolute tremendous job. I really, really feel for Chris."

However, Roger Speed’s calls for calm are likely to go unheeded if Wales slump to a sixth consecutive defeat – a defeat that would effectively spell the end for Wales’ chances of reaching Brazil in two years’ time.

Coleman is heavily reliant on winger Gareth Bale, who might be in excellent form but cannot be expected to single-handedly win qualifying matches. The Tottenham star scored the only goal against Serbia – and the only goal of Coleman’s Wales tenure to date – and will need to produce a masterclass if the hosts are to clinch a precious three points.

He will have additional incentive to get one over on Scotland with midfielder Charlie Adam set to feature in the opponents’ starting line-up. Bale labelled the former Liverpool-turned-Stoke man a “coward” during pre-season for catching him with a dangerous tackle, a year after he was left sidelined for three months with ankle ligament damage by the same player.

Bale’s team-mate Joe Allen is not convinced that the hostility between the two opponents will make the fixture any feistier, but firmly believes the winger can make the difference.

“Gareth is one of the best players I have had the privilege to play with,” the Liverpool midfielder told the Daily Record. “He can be unplayable. There aren’t many in British football who can do the things he can do when he’s at the top of his game.

“More often than not he is at his best and I am sure that will be the case on Friday.”

If that does prove to be the case, then Wales have a chance of securing a positive result which would leave Levein’s popularity among the Scotland supporters at a new low.

Like Wales, it would also leave Scotland facing an uphill struggle to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals.

But with their team now spearheaded by the country’s best striker once again, Scotland will fancy their chances of getting the job done in Cardiff before switching their focus to Tuesday’s match against Belgium in Brussels.

Steven Fletcher will be keen to make up for lost time, as Wales could discover to their cost on Friday.

Prediction: Wales 1 Scotland 2

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