Gareth Bale urges Wales to keep fighting after draw with Serbia

By Patrick Surlis

Gareth Bale admitted the draw with Serbia didn't feel like a good result after they conceded the lead with five minutes to go

Gareth Bale insists Wales will keep fighting to secure World Cup qualification after a "disappointing" 1-1 draw with Serbia on Saturday.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's 85th-minute header cancelled out Bale's first-half strike to leave Wales third in Group D, four points behind table-toppers Republic of Ireland.

Only first place is guaranteed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup but Bale, who hit the post moments before Mitrovic's equaliser, remains confident Wales will be in Russia despite a third straight draw.

Highlights of Wales' World Cup qualifier against Serbia from Group D

"It's one of those things that seems to happen in football, you get so close at one end and they go up the other end and score," the Real Madrid star told Sky Sports. "That's football, I suppose.

"We have to take it on the chin, learn from it, and we need to keep fighting.

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"We believe we can do it, we just have to keep working hard, keep doing the things we are doing and we will get a little bit of luck."

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Bale's fourth goal of the qualifying campaign put Chris Coleman's side in control 15 minutes before half-time, but Newcastle forward Mitrovic climbed above James Chester to level.

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"I thought we played great in the first half but in the second half, we didn't play as well as the first," Bale added.

"We dug in there and we showed our heart, but it is disappointing we conceded at the end and we feel like we've dropped points straight away.

Wales boss Chris Coleman felt his side had done enough to hold out for the win against Serbia

"We were at home, we were confident going into the game and we were 1-0 up until the 85th minute. We have to look at it as two points lost and it is very disappointing."

Wales have the chance to gain ground on Republic of Ireland in their next match when they travel to Dublin to take on the group leaders in March.

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