GABBS PAYS THE PENALTY; Returning Wales defender laments lack of match practice.

Byline: Steve Tucker

DANNY Gabbidon admitted the lack of game-time cost him dear as Wales slid to a 2-1 defeat in Montenegro.

The former Cardiff City defender was at fault for Montenegro's two first-half goals, Sam Vokes replying for Wales with a firm header seven minutes after the re-start.

Stevan Jovetic's spot-kick and Radomir Dalovic's turn and shot past Wayne Hennessey both came from Gabbidon mistakes as the centre-half found life difficult on his first Wales appearance for nearly two years.

"I've had a very good pre-season but I'm still a bit off where I want to be," said Gabbidon, who has been plagued by serious abdominal problems. "I need to do a bit of work and keep on improving and I hope that will come with more games."

But Gabbidon was keen to take the positives from this friendly before the more serious business of World Cup action resumes against Russia next month.

"I felt it was a good run-out," he said. "They were a decent team and played well, but we had some good moments.

"We're disappointed with the two goals we conceded and that's something we need to work on.

"But we've got to focus on the positives."

Reflecting on Jovetic's soft 31st-minute penalty which put Montenegro ahead, Gabbidon added: "He (Simon Vukcevic) got in front of me and went down.

"Maybe there was a bit of justice because maybe the one before could have been a penalty.

"I'm disappointed with that but the referee did not give us much all night."

Wales boss John Toshack said: "It was very, very hot out there and a lot of the boys have not played much football yet. So it was tough.

"But those two goals near the end of the first-half changed the game, it was very hard to come back after that.

"I have no complaints about the result, we were beaten by the better side on the night.

"Even after we scored, we did not really trouble their defence toomuch, and that was a disappointment." Match report: pages 50& 51

CAPTION(S):

A dejected Danny Gabbidon looks helplessly towards the referee after Montenegro's Simon Vukcevic wins a penalty during Wales' 2-1 defeat last night