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The Scotsman, UK
March 29 2005
Flynn Looks on the Bright Side
From Paul Walker, PA Sport, Vienna
Brian Flynn insisted there were plenty of positives for his Wales
Under-21 side to reflect on despite their unfortunate 2-0 defeat in
Austria last night.
The UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier at Neusiedl Am See, some 40
miles from Vienna, was a torrid affair at times, poorly refereed by
Armenian Ararat Tchagharyan.
He missed two blatant penalties for fouls on exciting Oxford
youngster Craig Davies, but showed a red card to Craig Morgan for a
mid-air challenge that was mild in comparison with much of the rough
stuff being meted out by the hosts.
Roman Kienast scored early on and Jurgen Samuel near the end when
Wales were down to 10 men, but had it not been for a fine display
from Austrian keeper Ramazan Ozcan, the Welsh would surely have got
something the game.
Boss Flynn said: `There were lots of encouraging things, lots of
ability and another small step for us.
`But that is how it will be until the qualifiers for the 2008
European Championship start, then we will see how far we have climbed
up the ladder.
`But I certainly feel that we have managed a couple of rungs in these
last two games with Austria.
`There have been several plus points and several good personal
performances.'
And Flynn added: `Apart from the first 20 minutes when we didn't
settle well, we did not have any problems and their second goal was
not a true reflection on the game.
`But when Craig Morgan was sent off we had to change things and it
was unfortunate we couldn't get the goal we needed to really spark
us.'
Tough Wrexham defender Morgan will now miss the next three games
against England, Poland and Germany in the group.
He said: `I still don't know what I got the red card for, it's the
first time I have been sent off for Wales and the referee didn't even
speak a word of English to be able to tell me what it was for.
`I jumped for the ball and we collided, that is about it. It was very
unfortunate because were were doing really well in the match at that
point.'
Lewis Price made an early error to gift Austria their first goal, and
Flynn said: `He came into the dressing room at the break and
apologised, but there were a few things going wrong in front of him
for the boy to get the chance in the first place.
Flynn added: `Sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve
from a game and this was one of those occasions.
`We played better in this game than when we beat Austria at Merthyr
Tydfil last week, but we just couldn't get the rewards for our
efforts.
`I actually didn't see what Morgan was sent off for but I've known
him for years and he is an honest boy. I will talk to him later about
it.'
March 29 2005
Flynn Looks on the Bright Side
From Paul Walker, PA Sport, Vienna
Brian Flynn insisted there were plenty of positives for his Wales
Under-21 side to reflect on despite their unfortunate 2-0 defeat in
Austria last night.
The UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier at Neusiedl Am See, some 40
miles from Vienna, was a torrid affair at times, poorly refereed by
Armenian Ararat Tchagharyan.
He missed two blatant penalties for fouls on exciting Oxford
youngster Craig Davies, but showed a red card to Craig Morgan for a
mid-air challenge that was mild in comparison with much of the rough
stuff being meted out by the hosts.
Roman Kienast scored early on and Jurgen Samuel near the end when
Wales were down to 10 men, but had it not been for a fine display
from Austrian keeper Ramazan Ozcan, the Welsh would surely have got
something the game.
Boss Flynn said: `There were lots of encouraging things, lots of
ability and another small step for us.
`But that is how it will be until the qualifiers for the 2008
European Championship start, then we will see how far we have climbed
up the ladder.
`But I certainly feel that we have managed a couple of rungs in these
last two games with Austria.
`There have been several plus points and several good personal
performances.'
And Flynn added: `Apart from the first 20 minutes when we didn't
settle well, we did not have any problems and their second goal was
not a true reflection on the game.
`But when Craig Morgan was sent off we had to change things and it
was unfortunate we couldn't get the goal we needed to really spark
us.'
Tough Wrexham defender Morgan will now miss the next three games
against England, Poland and Germany in the group.
He said: `I still don't know what I got the red card for, it's the
first time I have been sent off for Wales and the referee didn't even
speak a word of English to be able to tell me what it was for.
`I jumped for the ball and we collided, that is about it. It was very
unfortunate because were were doing really well in the match at that
point.'
Lewis Price made an early error to gift Austria their first goal, and
Flynn said: `He came into the dressing room at the break and
apologised, but there were a few things going wrong in front of him
for the boy to get the chance in the first place.
Flynn added: `Sometimes in football you don't get what you deserve
from a game and this was one of those occasions.
`We played better in this game than when we beat Austria at Merthyr
Tydfil last week, but we just couldn't get the rewards for our
efforts.
`I actually didn't see what Morgan was sent off for but I've known
him for years and he is an honest boy. I will talk to him later about
it.'