Wales head coach Rhian Wilkinson praised her side’s resilience after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Albania in their Women’s World Cup qualifier.
Rhiannon Roberts scored the decisive goal as Wales battled through a difficult evening in Elbasan, falling short of the standards they showed in last week’s 4-0 win over the same opponents.
“It was a tough day,” Wilkinson admitted.
“We didn’t play our best football, but I’m really pleased we still found a way to win."
"That’s what good teams do - even on off-days, they get the result.”
The victory keeps Wales second in Group B1, level on points with leaders Czech Republic but behind on goal difference after their rivals beat Montenegro earlier in the day.
Wales now face Montenegro next before a potentially decisive final group clash against the Czech Republic in Cardiff.
Wilkinson acknowledged the challenge of the group, stressing the importance of consistency: “There are no easy games."
"We have to show up every time and earn every point.”
Roberts’ first-half strike - which Albania felt should have been ruled out for handball - proved enough in a match where Wales struggled to find rhythm and were tested defensively, with the hosts hitting the woodwork twice.
Wilkinson credited Albania for their improved performance, noting their tactical discipline made life difficult for her team.
“They executed their plan really well and caused us problems,” she said.
“We just weren’t as sharp as we needed to be.”
Despite the lack of fluency, Wales remain firmly on course in their qualification campaign - with tougher tests still to come.
