Why are Bellamy’s Wales tailing off in games?

Nations League: Wales v Montenegro

Venue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Monday, 14 October Kick-off: 19:45 BST

Coverage: Live text and audio commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Listen on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds.

So far, so good for Wales and Craig Bellamy.

So much so that avoiding defeat against Montenegro will make the former forward the first Wales boss to go unbeaten in his opening four games in charge.

But it could also have been so much better – as he, as an individual who has always gone by the highest standard, will well know.

In the first three games of Bellamy’s reign, a trend has developed of Wales starting fast before tailing off.

No more so than in Friday’s draw with Iceland where his side had raced into a two-goal lead in Reykjavik – but had to settle for a point as the tables were turned after the interval.

Before that, there was a breathless start in the Cardiff opener against Turkey that ended with Wales running out of a little puff.

While last month’s game in Montenegro saw Wales have to scrap to maintain a rapidly established lead.

Each of the games so far has brought different, unique challenges – including the Montenegrin monsoon that so clearly affected things in Niksic.

And it is far from being a concern to overshadow an exciting start that has filled supporters with hope.

But what appear to be the reasons for the second-half drop-offs in the early days of the Bellamy era?

And how will Wales look to stop it?

Bellamy’s mantra when he first walked through the door as Wales head coach was all about forging an identity. A natural-born winner, results were always important – but the pressing priority was about Wales finding themselves as a team.

Meetings, analysis and Bellamy not swaying from what he wants his team to look like have all been geared to a new way of playing.

And, ultimately, players are still getting used to new demands and new instructions.

All during the limited time on camp with their new coach.

So perhaps expecting it to be nailed down for 90 minutes just three games in is just not realistic.

“It’s consistency in the game, that’s what you’re pushing for, to consistently be good with the ball and without the ball,” said Bellamy, who added it is not only about players getting used to the gameplan, but also adapting within matches.

He cited players still coming to terms with what he is asking of them and maybe reverting to a default setting when up against it in difficult moments.

“But I see these things as quite normal,” he added.

“We’ve spent a number of meetings since then showing that discipline will allow you to have good habits. Good habits allow you to be consistent and if you’re consistent, then you can grow.

“We’re just in that period at the moment. It’s trying to create that consistency for us in how we see we would like this team to become.”

Ben Davies – captain in the injury absence of Aaron Ramsey – admitted the biggest difference under Bellamy is the style of play.

“We’re trying to dominate with the ball and we’re trying to show that we can be good without it,” said Davies.

“It’s about maintaining those levels. You’ve seen in the games we’ve played that we have tried to start on the front foot, dominate the ball and create as many chances as we can.

“There’s a period of adaptation that’s expected. I feel that it’s gone pretty well and that as a group there’s a lot more to come from us.”

Intensity has always been a phrase associated with Bellamy, and it will be with his teams. High-energy is putting it mildly and the 45-year-old is open with the sprint-paced demands he will place on players.

One issue, though, is the number of players in the squad who are not getting regular game time at their clubs, a factor Bellamy can do little about.

Connor Roberts, for example, has only four league starts for Burnley this season. Ben Davies none for Spurs, likewise Harry Wilson for Fulham.

It may mean they are fresher, but it also means a tougher test for them stepping into such an environment.

“Maybe that’s a part of it as well – and maybe I could make a few more changes quicker,” accepted Bellamy, who has also been impacted by injuries and suspensions when it comes to options to make such changes.

While Bellamy will want to focus on the improvements his side can make, opponents are rarely willing to just stand and take punches.

Explosive starts have forced reactions from adjacent dugouts, as Davies pointed out when asked if he could put his finger on the apparent drop-offs.

“I think when we’ve had the start we’ve had in games, teams don’t have a lot to lose when they come out in the second half,” said the Tottenham defender, who expects Montenegro to be tight from the off because of the start in Niksic – when Wales were two goals up after three minutes.

“Both times teams threw a lot of men forward, went really aggressive on the press. We didn’t show our best and we didn’t deal with it as well as we could but that’s football sometimes.

“We kept trying to do the right thing. You’d rather use these games to get those experiences with the qualifiers coming around.”

Bellamy also pointed to Iceland stepping up their intensity and aggression, something that Wales could not match.

A point missed by many – but not by Bellamy – is the ‘what if?’ factor.

In the last two games, when Wales have had two-goal leads, they have spurned opportunities to make it even more comfortable.

There was Kieffer Moore in Montenegro who hit over instead of making it 3-0, likewise Sorba Thomas missing on Friday night in Iceland. If Wales are going to be fast starters, killing teams off in those periods is key.

“We’ve been able to put ourselves in a position in the last two games where we’ve been two goals up, we’ve had two big opportunities in those games to make it three,” said Bellamy. “Playing at two [up] or playing at three, it’s a lot easier being three [up], that one goal can definitely make a difference.”

It is an obvious statement, but does not make it any less true.

Equally obvious is how this is all still in the embryonic stage of Bellamy’s time in the international hot seat.

And, as performances have shown, it really has not been half bad at all from the rookie head coach.

The ambition to excite and attack has been as evident as the optimism created by the starts Wales have made in matches.

The challenge is to stretch that identity and intent over a longer period, all on the unforgiving stage of international football.

And it will not be a challenge Bellamy will shy away from.

“I think after three games, it’s not too bad,” he points out.

“We still have a lot to do, but that’s good because that allows you to coach more – and that allows you to be excited more.”