Wales v Serbia Prediction 11th September 2012

Wales face a stiff challenge in Serbia on Tuesday night, as they look to try and record their first ever win again the Serbs. In nine previous meetings there have been three draws and six defeats for the Welsh, and with Wales not having scored a single goal in their last three matches, they will probably face some struggles. The Welsh were defeated 2-0 at home against Belgium on Friday night, while Serbia were held to a dull 0-0 draw against Scotland This is Group A action the road to Brazil 2014 and Wales need a response. Do they have enough strike power up front though to go and break down a tricky and organised Serbian side? Their past record isn’t great, obviously and that would tend to lean things towards the home side, who are trading as favourites in the match betting odds. Wales just look very lightweight up front and Serbia will probably get most of the possession and therefore a Serbia -1.25 Asian Handicap for a price of 23/20 with online bookmaker Bet365 may fit the bill.

Wales lost defender James Collins early in their match against Belgium on Friday night, which didn’t help things in Cardiff. However, even prior to that Belgium, one of the group favourites alongside Croatia, were well in control and on top of things. Belgium were helped out by the red card and simply turned the match in a training exercise, so easy was it for them to keep the ball and control every aspect of the game. So it suggests that even without the red card Wales would have struggled to record a result against the Belgians, and while manager Chris Coleman was angry about the sending off and the Belgian free kick which lead to the visitor’s second goal of the game, Wales have a lot of work to do. If Gareth Bale isn’t getting into the box then Wales don’t have much to offer up front and all of the responsibility seems to be on the Tottenham player’s shoulders, without much support. The loss of Collins at the back will be a massive blow as well, having started the season so well for West Ham. Serbia weren’t very inventive at Hampden Park against Scotland and they haven’t won in their last five matches (three of those being 0-0 draws).

So if Wales are brave there could be rewards for them, but Serbia should have the edge at the end of the day in this one on home soil. Neither side have a lot of goals in them, but Serbia look to have the better technical edge and the stronger of the two defences.

Wales v Serbia Betting Odds at online bookmaker Bet365
Serbia 4/9, Draw 16/5, Wales 13/2