Hughes praises young heroes

Craig Bellamy was a constant threat on goal

Wales boss Mark Hughes admitted he was proud of his side after they had finally won a match in World Cup qualifying Group Five with a 1-0 victory over Belarus at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

All week Hughes was forced to contend with having the damning statistics thrust in front of him that if his team went 13 games without a victory, it would be the worst run in Wales' history.

Some people only wanted to concentrate on the negatives

Wales boss Mark Hughes

"We are obviously very pleased to have finally got a result I felt we fully deserved," Hughes said.

"The lads showed what they are about because the statistics we have been seeing all week made their job and mine a lot harder.

"We had to be mentally strong, stand up and be counted and be brave in possession and in the tackle. We showed how much we wanted to win.

"There have been a lot of positives from this campaign, a lot of games that we led in and could have won. Those positives were also the amount of good young players we have been able to introduce.

Simon Davies was one of Wales' young stars

"But unfortunately some people only wanted to concentrate on the negatives. I was very pleased with with the performance, the result was well merited."

Wales were without the suspended Ryan Giggs and Robbie Savage, and Hughes added: "We had several top people out for this one, particularly Ryan, and he's a great player we will always miss.

"But it gave the chance for some young players to take their chance and they certainly did that. We made so many chances and could have been three or four up easily at the break.

"Given the circumstances, without Ryan, that was probably the best performance the team have given under me."