Toshack fumes at Collins clash

John Toshack vented his anger after an injury to James Collins marred Wales' 1-0 defeat to Montenegro on Friday.

The Aston Villa centre-half took a nasty blow to his face after clashing with Miodrag Dzudovic during the second half in Podgorica.

The incident went unpunished by the match officials, despite replays showing that Collins had been caught by a stray elbow.

Afterwards, Toshack was livid at having seen a key member of his side forced from the field while no action was taken against the Montenegrin defender.

He said: "The James Collins incident, I would like to have a look at that, because I don't think you get a fractured jaw or a broken nose, or an eye in the condition his is, by falling over on the floor.

"Something has obviously happened there.

"He is in a little bit of discomfort and he will have to have some X-rays.

"Those things don't happen by accident."

Tough

The injury to Collins occurred when Wales were already trailing and heading towards defeat in their opening Euro 2012 qualifier.

Toshack's men struggled to get going after being put on the back foot early on and eventually fell to a Mirko Vucinic strike after half-an-hour.

Having been placed in a tough-looking Group G alongside Bulgaria, England and Switzerland, it is imperative they dust themselves off and ensure they bounce back stronger next time out.

Toshack said: "I think the next game against Bulgaria is now a must-win game, or we are virtually not going to have too much chance, to be honest with two tougher sides, supposedly, Switzerland and England, coming after that.

"There are teams that have lost their first games, but in the next game we have got to go out there in very determined fashion."

Craft

Wales' coach sees no reason why his side should not head into their next fixture in high spirits as they had Montenegro on the rack late on, with Simon Church seeing a late effort chalked off for offside.

Toshack said: "I'm disappointed to start that way. I thought the first half we didn't get to grips with things at all, particularly the midfield area.

"In the second half I thought we improved and pushed forward a lot more, had four or five good chances.

"We got to grips a little bit, maybe we were worth something. I think they were very pleased to hear the final whistle.

"I don't think they would have complained too much if the disallowed goal had stood, but it was offside apparently.

"Maybe we didn't have quite enough craft to get through in the final third. But we have failed to score, been beaten 1-0 and it is very disappointing."