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Rob Page accepts that Wales\u2019 Euro 2024 destiny might lie in the play-offs following their damaging draw with Armenia.<\/p>\n
Wales needed a Nair Tiknizyan own goal on the stroke of half-time to give them a 1-1 draw in Yerevan, when Armenia were the most dangerous side for large parts of a low-quality contest.<\/p>\n
Croatia are now favourites to take the second automatic qualifying spot behind Turkey, who travel to Cardiff for Wales\u2019 last group fixture on Tuesday safe in the knowledge they will be playing in the finals in Germany next summer.<\/p>\n
Having dropped points to remove automatic qualification from their own hands, manager Page said: \u201cThere\u2019s a disappointed group in there, but we\u2019ve got to pick ourselves up and finish on a high on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately it\u2019s now out of our control. With a win, we\u2019d all have been buzzing and looking forward to the game on Tuesday, and a win would have seen us qualify.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not materialised as we\u2019d like, but that\u2019s life and we have to get on with it.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s about building momentum and, if it\u2019s a play-off in March, it\u2019s a play-off in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf results go for us, we\u2019ve still got an opportunity to qualify (automatically).<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can only control what we can do, get the players in the right frame of mind, mentally and physically ready for Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales were beaten 4-2 by Armenia \u2013 ranked 95 in the world and 67 places below them \u2013 at the Cardiff City Stadium in June, and Page\u2019s side were shaken again within five minutes of the Yerevan return.<\/p>\n
Lucas Zelarayan, who scored twice in Cardiff, worked space on the edge of the area after Wales failed to clear a corner and slotted the ball into the corner of Danny Ward\u2019s net.<\/p>\n
Page said: \u201cWe got off to the worst possible start, we knew they were going to come out the traps fast. I\u2019m disappointed with that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought we grew in the first half and scored at the perfect time.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the break came at a bad time for us because I thought we were growing in momentum.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got into some OK positions. Whether it was the final pass or the final ball, that final detail wasn\u2019t quite right for whatever reason.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe threw everything at it and both teams were going for the win.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou could see by the changes we made. We took a wing back-off and put a winger on to try and get as many forward players on the pitch as we could.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wales had beaten World Cup semi-finalists Croatia last month to put them in control of the race for a top-two place.<\/p>\n
But on a poor pitch that neither team were able to master, Wales did not remotely come close hitting the heights of that performance.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the contrasting two displays, Page said: \u201cIt\u2019s not to say there were a lot of players who had off-days, but you do have that in transitions, you have inconsistencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to fault the players for their effort. Their effort, to a man, was commendable. They gave everything, like they always do.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pitch was heavy, like nothing we\u2019ve seen back home, but it was the same for both sides.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll get them recovered, have a recovery session on Sunday and go through with the medical team who we\u2019ve got available for Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to finish the campaign on a high. It\u2019s important to have some momentum if there is a play-off in March.\u201d<\/p>\n