Kevin Ratcliffe on Wales

Wales produced one of the worst defensive displays I've ever seen in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Cyprus.

There were gaps appearing everywhere and there wasn't any leadership. It was so disappointing to see.

All three goals they conceded were down to poor defending.

Maybe goalkeeper Danny Coyne was slow to come out to challenge for the cross for the first Cyprus goal, but Okkas was left free as a bird in the box and all he had to do was nod it into the goal.

There was a case for offside for their second, but again Wales were guilty of ball-watching instead of picking up their men.

And the third was another free header just in front of goal - that's just not acceptable.

It was such a disappointing end to the game because Wales looked to be heading for another away win at half-time.

Coyne wasn't troubled at all in the first half - he hardly had anything to do.

But the big turning point for me was in the second half when Craig Bellamy was denied by a great save.

That would have opened up a two-goal lead and I think Wales would've gone on to win.

But instead of building on that, Wales didn't create anything from then on and didn't seem to have anything left in the locker.

They looked well spent - I don't know if it was the weather or the pitch, but it's a big disappointment because we should be taking three points against teams like Cyprus.

Toshack had to make some changes towards the end to try to get something out of the game. It didn't look balanced but sometimes those kind of changes come off and sometimes they don't.

A couple of players were off form and it's no surprise that Freddy Eastwood, James Collins and Danny Gabbidon didn't play to their capabilities.

They are not playing week-in-week-out for their clubs. Collins was caught wanting in the first half and as the game went on I think Gabbidon struggled to keep up with the pace.

This result will have taken a lot out of the players and dented their pride. They must bounce back immediately against San Marino.

It's not going to be as hot or humid out there, and it's a perfect opportunity to rectify this performance. We desperately need three points.

San Marino have conceded 50 goals in their 10 games in this group so that suggests we should win comfortably, but we must go out with the correct attitude.

We've got the players to create chances and open up defences. They've just got to show a bit more patience than they did against Cyprus.

But if we don't beat San Marino then serious questions will be asked of Toshack's future as manager.

As always after a defeat, he said he will look at himself first and question whether could have done anything differently in the build-up.

He'll then look at the players and I'm sure he'll be looking to make changes.

But if you look at the squad, he hasn't got too many faces to change. The squad is as bare as it can be.

He might throw Jermaine Easter in ahead of Eastwood up front; but you never know with Toshack, he might use a completely different system.

Kevin Ratcliffe was speaking on BBC Radio Wales

Source: BBC Sport