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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

Wales player ratings as duo endure tough night vs majestic Kevin De Bruyne but Nottingham Forest star produces sublime moment

These are how we rated the Wales players following their Nations League encounter with Belgium in Brussels.

Wayne Hennessey - 6

Skipper for the night with Gareth Bale on the bench. Got a hand to Kevin De Bruyne's first-time-hit opener and was helpless for the second. Saved so well from the Man City man with his feet just before half-time.

Chris Mepham - 5

Guilty of giving Yannick Carrasco too much room on the right-hand side on occasion. Tough night against stellar opposition. Booked for a frustrated kick at Hazard. Dug deep in fairness to him.

Joe Rodon - 5

Anchoring the backline, he backed off too much with the hosts' opener. Rose well with a header for Wales' best chance of the first half. Will be disappointed with the second, too.

Rhys Norrington-Davies - 5

On the left of a back three the Sheffield United man put in a number of last-ditch blocks. Recovered well against Michy Batshuayi when the Red Devils went long over the top in the first half. Possibly at fault and out of position for the second. Subbed

Connor Roberts - 6

On the right of midfield he was an attacking threat early on but had to adopt a more conservative approach defensively. Carrasco gave him a few headaches. Like many of team-mates, improved after the turnaround.

Ethan Ampadu - 5

Selected in midfield alongside Matt Smith, the pair struggled to stifle the likes of De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Eden Hazard. Shrugged off too easily for the second. Booked.

Matt Smith - 5

Perhaps a surprise pick to start, he hurried and harried from the off. Was caught out of position for De Bruyne's strike and in the build-up to the second, with the home side cutting through the middle of Wales at will at times. Subbed.

Neco Williams - 6

Bombed forward from a left-sided midfield berth and needed no invitation. Was lively as ever. Like his team-mates, was often of the back foot in the first half but was more influential in the second. Decent strike late on.

Brennan Johnson - 7 - STAR MAN

The Nottingham Forest man started brightly and was an outlet but his influence was limited in the first period. That changed in the second half with a brilliant cross for Moore. Sublime. Had a (difficult) chance to square the game late on. Wales' best player after the break.

Kieffer Moore - 6

The focal point, as ever, in attack. Picked on because of his elbows again, he performed a few little flicks which caught the eye. Towering header gave Wales hope. Subbed with injury.

Daniel James - 6

Linked well with Moore in the opening exchanges and worked his socks off with little to show for it. His pace on the counter was an asset in the second half.

Subs:

Joe Morrell (for Smith) - well-timed tackle was adjudged to be a penalty but decision overturned - 5

Gareth Bale (for Moore) - so close to getting on the end of a James cross when he came on - 5

Tyler Roberts (for Norrington-Davies) - made himself look busy - 5

Subs not used: Danny Ward, Tom King, Chris Gunter, Ben Cabango, Dylan Levitt, Jonny Williams, Mark Harris, Sorba Thomas, Luke Harris

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