Ramsey hopes to get back on track

Aaron Ramsey knows Wales must get back on track against Serbia on Tuesday night.

Last Updated: 10/09/12 at 18:10   

Aaron Ramsey: 'We can't dwell on what's happened'

Aaron Ramsey: 'We can't dwell on what's happened'

Wales captain Aaron Ramsey knows his side must put their disappointing start to World Cup qualifying behind them and get back on track against Serbia on Tuesday night.

Wales opened their bid to reach the 2014 finals in Brazil with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium on Friday night.

Belgium are viewed as the favourites to top Group A but Wales were left aggrieved by a handful of key refereeing decisions that went against them.

In particular, manager Chris Coleman criticised the first-half sending off on James Collins while the score was 0-0, and the decision to penalise Ramsey for the free-kick from which Jan Vertonghen struck Belgium's second.

Like his manager, midfielder Ramsey believes there were plenty of positives to take from the performance on the night, but wants any sense of grievance to be put to one side in order to ensure Wales get a result at the Karadjordje Stadium.

The Arsenal playmaker said: "Overall we are delighted with how we defended and counter-attacked against Belgium and it was a shame we couldn't get a couple of goals, but it is always difficult when you are down to 10 men against a good side.

"But that game has gone now, we can't dwell on what's happened.

"We have to move on from it, we felt a couple of decisions went against us like when they scored off the free-kick, but we can't do a lot about it.

"I felt we played well, we defended well and hopefully we can do that tomorrow and play with 11 men for the entire game and have a better opportunity to get a result."

Wales go into the game having failed to find the net in their last four games, while Serbia have failed to score in five of their last six fixtures.

That may suggest a goalless draw could be a likely outcome, but Ramsey is confident Wales will soon rediscover their touch in front of goal, and is also wary of the talent of a Serbia squad including CSKA Moscow's former Manchester United winger Zoran Tosic and new Manchester City signing Matija Nastasic.

"They are technically good, they like to get the ball down and play," said Ramsey.

"They have some real quality in their team, they like to retain possession and keep the ball, but we like to do that too.

"It will be an interesting battle and hopefully one we can come out on top.

"We haven't scored in our last few games but we have still created opportunities, we have hit the bar a couple of times and stuff like that, we are creating but not taking our chances.

"But we have the players who like to play and create and if we also defend well we will have a really good result."

Wales are without the likes of Craig Bellamy, Wayne Hennessey and Neil Taylor in Novi Sad, while Collins is suspended following his red card against the Belgians.

But Wales are hopeful Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen will be fit after missing Friday's game through a combination of illness and a calf problem.

And Ramsey hopes Allen will be well enough to play a part.

"Joe is a great player who can break up play and retain the ball so well. His pass combinations are exceptional and he is a big player for us, he plays for a top club now and it's good to have him back in the squad and he will be welcomed back."

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Fixtures

Friday, 07 June 2013
17:00
Armenia v Malta  
Azerbaijan v Luxembourg  
Finland v Belarus  
17:30
Latvia v Bosnia  
18:45
Lithuania v Greece  
19:00
Iceland v Slovenia  
Liechtenstein v Slovakia  
19:15
Croatia v Scotland  
Moldova v Poland  
19:30
Albania v Norway  

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