Northern Ireland v Wales Windsor Park, 2.0Wales trundled into Belfast on Thursday on the back of four straight defeats, four games without a goal and with the whiff of acrimony in the air after Ben Thatcher's exclusion form the squad. Add no Craig Bellamy, no Danny Gabbidon, fresh criticism from Neville Southall regarding John Toshack's management style and, no matter how many platitudes Ryan Giggs offered, Wales look like a set-up expecting to lose this afternoon.
"We are desperate for a win," said Giggs, the Wales captain since Gary Speed's retirement. The emphasis was on desperate.
"Losing can become a habit," added Giggs, "but hopefully our luck will change; we're nearly there."
And on he went. It sounded like an exercise in wishful thinking and the tone of it would have certainly surprised the Northern Ireland manager Lawrie Sanchez.
Not only were his side being talked up as "confident" and "on a run" after consecutive wins in the group against Azerbaijan and England; Windsor Park has entered the Welsh imagination as an Irish coliseum of a venue.
Given Wales play in the 75,000 capacity Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Windsor Park's 14,000 should hardly intimidate, but Giggs and Toshack both mentioned the "daunting" atmosphere they will face, while John Hartson has warned Toshack that his Celtic affiliation will ensure a fierce reception. "I wasn't aware of that but John has made me aware of it," said Toshack.
But there have been few smiles about a campaign which could possibly see Wales finish bottom of the group and, though Toshack signed a five-year deal less than a year ago, he again used the word "vulnerable" when describing his position.
A victory in Wales' first visit to Belfast for 22 years would dramatically alter perceptions, but Wales have new injury concerns about Lewis Price, their goalkeeper. Price, of Ipswich Town, would be making his debut and it may be that the 38-year-old Paul Jones, now on loan from Wolves at Millwall, steps in.
Toshack also has a decision to make about Aston Villa's Mark Delaney, who is on his way back from injury and has played three reserve games.
Northern Ireland have similar problems in defence with captain Aaron Hughes out and Chris Baird suspended. Both played against England and Azerbaijan.
Wales did pretty well against England in Cardiff four days before the Irish - "We softened them up," said Giggs - but that performance appears to have been forgotten in the gloom enveloping Welsh football.
