Wales made a winning start to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a nervy 1-0 win over Azerbaijan in Cardiff, courtesy of an 81st minute goal by teenage substitute Sam Vokes. Here are the individual player ratings…

Wales

Hennessey - 7
On the spot when he needed to be, making one important save from a long range effort which might have made it a long hard night for Wales. Aside from that, not much to do.

Gunter - 7
A good performance from the Tottenham youngster who was solid in defence and got forward down the right when he could. Nearly scored in the first period only to be denied by a last ditch intervention, and won the penalty which Koumas missed.

Morgan – 6.5
Caught a little cold once or twice, but solid overall and rarely troubled

Williams - 7
Looked the part in defence, and very comfortable on the ball, always looking to play it out of the back and set attacks in motion
Bale- 8
The outstanding player for Wales, and probably the match. Everything went down Wales’s left in the first half, and much of the second, before the subs changed the game. The opposition could not cope with his dribbling ability. Class.

Davies- 6.5
Not really involved in the game enough going forward, slipping in and out of play, but saw more action as the match wore on.

Fletcher 7
Solid in his usual holding role just in front of an inexperienced defence.

Edwards - 7
A chance to impress Toshack for the Wolves man , and he didn’t let himself down. Always looking to push forward from the centre of midfield, went close with a curling left foot shot, and was probably a little unlucky to be substituted.

Ledley - 6
A quiet game for the sought-after Cardiff man, with Bale totally dominating proceedings down the left. Not the Ledley we usually see in a Wales shirt. He needed to be involved far more given his creative and attacking potential.

Koumas – 7.5
The creative brain of the team, as always Koumas displayed that extra touch of class, over and above anyone else on the field. Hit a fantastic shot from nothing with impetuous ease that was destined for the top corner, forcing the Azeri ‘keeper into a great save. Dreadful penalty though.

Earnshaw - 6
Largely ineffective in attack, where he was unable to get on the end of any balls coming into the box. First touch let him down once or twice, and the impact made by the young strikers who came on  (coupled with Bellamy and Eastwood’s future return), mean Earnie could have blown his chance.

Subs

Evans - 6.5

Vokes- 7.5
Perfect example of the instant impact a replacement striker should make. Two early headers could have opened the scoring before the eventual goalmouth strike.

Robinson - 6

Azerbaijan

Arhayev – 8
Excellent display by the Azeri ‘keeper. Made a string of top quality saves and was not to blame for the goal.

Melikov – 6
Unable to suppress Bale down the Wales left, from where the hosts were able to maintain consistent pressure on the visitors.

Sadygov - 6
Hacked down Gunter for the penalty and looked vulnerable to pace

Abbasov – 6.5
Defended reasonably well, but the goalmouth melee resulting in the opener put paid to the collective defensive effort.

Oglu – 6.5
The captain, much like his defensive team mates, put the challenges in when he had to, but it was all in vain.

Huseinov – 6
Contributed to the defensive cover like the rest of his team mates, but subbed off at half time by Vogts due to injury.

Bashiev – 6
Denied space to on-running midfielders and helped out the defence, but offered little in the other direction.

N Mammadov - 6
Much like the rest of the midfield, got back behind the ball to deny the Welsh time and space to thread balls through, but failed to contribute much in possession.

E Mammadov – 7
One of the better midfield performers for the Azeri, he looked lively down the flanks at times and kept Gunter on his toes, evidenced by the Spurs man’s inability to push on as much as Bale on the other side.

Ramim – 6.5
Dangerous looking player who showed some nice touches, and always looked to play in and link with Subhasic. But his red card killed it for the visitors, as Wales regained the momentum that just deserted them when Koumas missed from the spot.

Subhasic - 7
The best outfield performance in an Azeri shirt, the Red Star man looked a potential threat throughout even if he was short on support, and was one of the few to test the Welsh keeper.

Subs

Nabiyev – 6
Nduka - 6

Ref From goal.com