No more Bale restrictions..

CHESTER: WE’VE PUT THAT DEMON TO BED

JAMES CHESTER believes Wales are ready to qualify tonight after claiming Friday’s win without Gareth Bale has “put that demon to bed”. Crocked Real Madrid superstar Bale, who has plundered 26 goals in 68 caps, is again out of action for tonight’s huge clash.

But Bale, responsible for more than 75 per cent of Wales’ goals when they qualified for Euro 2016, is coming to the 33,000 sell-out Cardiff City Stadium in support. He sent the squad a good luck message before their 1-0 win over Georgia in Tbilisi courtesy of a screamer from Tom Lawrence. It was Wales’ first competitive victory without their talisman for four years, stretching back to a 1-0 win over Macedonia in 2013.

And ahead of their showdown with Ireland, Aston Villa defender Chester says

Wales have proved they can cope without him.

Chester said:

“Gareth will be around.

He sent the lads a good luck message in Georgia to get the job done.

“But it was important as a group to put that demon to bed with the run of games without winning when Gareth has been out. It was nice to see Tom step up and take the glory.”

Of the 32 matches

Wales have played without Bale since his debut in 2006, they have won just seven.

Before this season only two of those were competitive fixtures – in 2009 away to Azerbaijan and that Cardiff clash with Macedonia – making victory in Georgia last Friday such a big deal.

Chester is set to line up alongside skipper Ashley Williams again in central defence after they kept a clean sheet in Georgia. Everton stopper Williams has come in for heavy criticism following errors that cost his club goals against Manchester United and Apollon Limassol.

But the 33-year-old (top) was imperious in Wales’ third successive qualifying triumph without conceding. Coleman can also call on two Premier League midfielders in Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey (left) and Stoke star Joe Allen (bottom). Chester added: “With Gareth missing we need as many leaders as possible in the squad – and there is none bigger than Ash. “Everyone has a dip in form, if that is the case for Ash, but he has shown in Georgia what a good player he is. “In the big games in Cardiff we have always produced. Ireland versus Wales is going to have bite in the game regardless. “But it’s going to be extra special with what is at stake. “We knew our job four games ago and we have ticked them off one by one. Ireland need to win and will have to come at us. “Hopefully that will suit us.”