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European qualifiers: Chris Coleman critical of pitch and referee after Wales beat Andorra

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Coleman delighted with Wales players

Chris Coleman was critical of the pitch and referee Slavko Vincic after Wales' 2-1 European qualifying win in Andorra.

Gareth Bale rescued Wales from severe embarrassment at the Estadi Nacional on Tuesday night as Coleman's side began their Group B campaign with a nervy victory.

Wales trailed to a sixth-minute penalty from Ildefons Lima as Andorra, ranked 199 in the world, scored their first goal in competitive football for four years.

But Real Madrid star Bale equalised with a 22nd-minute header before grabbing a dramatic winner nine minutes from time with a wonderful 25-yard free-kick.

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Gareth Bale proved to be the key man for Wales, helping them come from behind to beat Andorra 2-1

Coleman was not impressed with the new stadium's artificial 3G surface, which was only passed fit for use by UEFA last Wednesday after original tests showed the ball was rolling too fast on the pitch.

"They (Andorra) are a fighting nation and when we arrived, my heart sunk when we trained on it (the pitch)," Coleman told Sky Sports.

"It shouldn't be played on at our level. The good thing is that we got three points and everyone else has to come here."

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Coleman admitted he was relieved to be returning to Wales with all three points, despite the narrow margin of victory.

"I am delighted with the lads," he added, "With the expectation on us, it was never going to be easy - you couldn't run with the ball and we had to gamble at times. It's three points, whether we win 1-0 or 3-0.

"There were half a dozen challenges that weren't very good. The ref should have clamped down but he let it go and we are a bit disappointed with that - we had a bit to contend with tonight."

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