Turkey 2-0 Wales: Rob Page's side dealt another seismic blow in Euro 2024 qualification bid after damaging defeat

A 10-man Wales were hit for two second-half goals in Samsun as the defeat by Turkey rounded off a damaging weekend for their Euro 2024 qualification hopes.

After a chastening 4-2 defeat by Armenia on Friday, a game which also saw Wales have a man sent off, this game in Turkey, which represented the halfway mark of the campaign, was so important.

But a cocktail of a Joe Morrell red card, the second in four days after Kieffer Moore's on Friday, and strikes from Umut Nayir and Arda Guler was enough to down Wales and ratchet up the pressure on Rob Page.

And it could have been worse, too, because the hosts had two goals ruled out through VAR and Danny Ward pulled off a very good penalty save. All told, it was a bleak evening in Samsun.

There were two changes to the team for Wales following their 4-2 loss to Armenia, both of which were enforced. Morrell came in for Moore and Neco Williams came in to the left-hand side of defence for Ben Davies, who was absent as he awaited the birth of his first child.

Many thought Page would go for five at the back, to shore up the team in a hostile environment, especially on the back of that chastening defeat last Friday, but he stuck to his guns and opted for a four.

After a baking hot day in Samsun, the storm clouds gathered over the stadium ahead of kick-off and the rainclouds emptied. Page hoped that would not represent an ominous sign of things to come.

One has to attend a game in Turkey to fully appreciate just what a hostile and daunting atmosphere the supporters create within the stadium. As Wales jogged out for the warm-up, deafening whistles bellowed out at them, with the stadium just half full at that point. It was an occasion which needed Wales' soldiers to stand up and be