Mooney 'gutted' with Wales U21s blunder as Jones promises review

Wales U21s lost just twice in eight games this campaign

Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney says he is "gutted" with the paperwork blunder that saw six players ruled out of Wales Under-21s crucial European Championship qualifier with Czechia.

Wales were beaten 2-1 at Rodney Parade and are now relying on the Czechs failing to beat Lithuania on Tuesday to secure a play-off place for next summer’s finals.

But the game was overshadowed by the administrative error that forced Matty Jones to rip up plans to start senior international squad members Rubin Colwill and Owen Beck just hours before kick-off.

Writing on X, Mooney said: "Well done to Matty & our U21s on a great campaign.

"Naturally, we are gutted that an off pitch error occurred as it did and it's important we own it, learn & grow....as we always do."

Jones played down the impact on the team, having already been without several age-qualified players through the campaign who have stepped into Craig Bellamy’s senior squad, including the likes of Lewis Koumas.

The U21s boss did concede the mistake was a disruption, though denied he was left angry by what had happened.

“There will be a review to get to the bottom of it and make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said Jones, a former Wales, Leeds United and Leicester City midfielder.

“It has caused disruption and unnecessary noise. I think I managed it the best I could but ultimately it’s at the back of your mind and at the back of players’ minds as well.

“We know we have the strength in the squad to cater for players when they’ve been missed, when they’ve been good enough to go up to the first team.

“Of course everyone wants a Rubin Colwill and Owen Beck in the team but we’ve shown before we can manage without them. It wasn’t a major concern, but how it came about was disappointing.

“We will stick together and take the responsibility as a whole. It’s a ‘we’ problem rather than about pointing fingers.”

Jones did admit his emotions were “really fragile” at the prospect of the end of a campaign that had impressed and threatened to create history.

Victory would have given Wales a chance of a first appearance at a major finals at this age grade, last coming close when a side containing the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen reached the play-offs in 2008.

Ramsey was in the crowd at Rodney Parade with Wales needing only a point to guarantee a play-off place themselves.

Shrewsbury Town's Luca Hoole scored his first goal for Wales U21s with a consolation in added time

Jones, who admitted Czechia’s goals deflated Wales after an impressive opening period from the hosts, added: “To say we’ve overachieved is an understatement.

“The boys have shown character through the campaign, everyone wrote us off going into it as fourth seeds.

“It’s down to the players and the togetherness we’ve created so there are lots of positives, but the players won’t want to hear that right now.

“My emotions are really fragile because it’s been a lot of hard work for two years, and to see it come to an end like that – even though we’re hanging onto a string – is tough.

“We know these teams qualify for major tournaments and do it consistently, we know what it looks like, but we need to know how it feels. They know how to find a way to qualify and we need to get there.”