Long-Bale outfit will boot Alex

CHRIS COLEMAN is backing Gareth Bale to make big-mouth Aleksandar Kolarov eat his words tonight.

The Manchester City defender claimed his Serbia side should have no problems keeping a “long-ball” outfit like Wales under wraps.

But Welsh boss Coleman is confident Kolarov will be kept quiet by trying to stop Spurs flier Bale in Novi Sad.

Coleman said: “It’s up to him what he thinks — and it’s up to us that we keep Mr Kolarov busy.

“If Gareth plays on his side, he’ll have to concentrate hard on his own style of play rather than worrying about us.

“How much has he seen of us anyway? Has he watched all our games? Has he been scouting us?

“Baley is a one-off. He could probably get into any other national team.

“They will double up on him, use other tactics to stop him, just like Belgium tried.

“Gareth knows that and won’t worry about it.”

Wales’ hopes of reaching a first World Cup since 1958 suffered a set-back when they were beaten by the much-fancied Belgians on Friday.

Of greater concern is the fact they have yet to score a goal in 2012 in four straight defeats.

Coleman said: “No matter how you break it down, we haven’t scored since I took over.

“I’ve been here before and you worry you’re never going to get a win, you’re never going to score. But it will come and tomorrow will be perfect for us.”

Serbia are similarly short of goals, having drawn a blank in five of their last six matches and have won just one of their last 11.

Coleman hopes his team can capitalise and said: “We’ve been told it has been moved from Belgrade because they won’t get a crowd there. They’ve had their problems and the fans are disillusioned so they are not without their issues.”

Wales will give Liverpool’s Joe Allen until the last minute to prove he has shaken off a virus.

Coleman said: “The type of boy he is, if there’s a chance to play he will.”