Wales' fast start earns Craig Bellamy first win as manager

Wales claimed their first win under Craig Bellamy with a 2-1 Nations League success over Montenegro on a rain-lashed night in Niksic.

Kieffer Moore and Harry Wilson gave Wales a dream start with a quickfire double inside three minutes.

Moore's opener was timed at 37 seconds – Wales’ fastest goal since 2003 – and ended their longest scoreless streak of four games since September 2012.

Driton Camaj set up a grandstand finish such an entertaining encounter deserved, but Wales held on for three points after their opening Group B4 draw against Euro 2024 quarter-finalists Turkey.

Despite the early advantage, Wales could not rest easy in the face of a twin-pronged attack from their aggressive Montenegro hosts and the Niksic elements.

There were numerous crunching challenges on a surface that inevitably cut up after incessant rain had raised questions earlier in the day whether the game would be played.

Niksic was hosting its first men’s senior international after Podgorica’s national stadium pitch had been declared unplayable by UEFA.

It meant Wales’ 800-plus following headed just over 50 kilometres north of the Montenegrin capital to see if new boss Bellamy could build on an impressive start against Turkey.

Bellamy had promised changes after that goalless draw in Cardiff and, in the event, made five.

Leeds goalkeeper Karl Darlow, just a month short of his 34th birthday, became Wales’ oldest debutant since World War II, with Lewis Koumas and Ollie Cooper making first starts.

Moore and Chris Mepham also came in as skipper Aaron Ramsey, Brennan Johnson, Danny Ward, Jordan James and Sorba Thomas dropped out.

Montenegro recalled former Manchester City striker Stevan Jovetic, their all-time leading scorer but currently without a club at the