Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Chris still spooked by Serbia
Tomorrow, 7.45pm CHRIS COLEMAN returns to Serbia admitting he is still haunted by the 6-1 thrashing his side suffered there five years ago. The Welsh saw their hopes of reaching the 2014 World Cup hit by the embarrassing defeat in Novi Sad. It was the nation’s heaviest loss since 1996 and sparked calls for boss Coleman to be sacked, despite only taking charge eight months earlier. The manager survived and subsequently led his men to the last-four at Euro 2016 in their first major finals since 1958. But Wales’ hopes of making the 2018 World Cup are in the balance ahead of the crunch game in Belgrade tomorrow. Coleman was there earlier this year on a reconnaissance trip and admits it brought back bad memories from 2012. He said: “It was only a recce but I had butterflies in my stomach as soon as I got off the plane –‘Here we go again, I remember this place’. “I can’t say this is just another game in the group because it’s not, for more than one reason. “And one of the reasons is that I suffered there, we suffered there – and it was my fault. That will never leave me. But I can’t wait for it. I know it’s going to be tough, but I like meeting those challenges.” Wales are third in Group D after four successive draws and star man Gareth Bale is suspended. Defeat would leave them seven points off automatic qualification with only four games left – and if Ireland beat Austria at home, even a play-off spot will look out of reach.