Armenia 1-1 Wales: Dismal performance leaves Euro 2024 hopes hanging in the balance for Rob Page's men

Wales saw their hopes of Euro 2024 qualification take a huge dent after they served up another dismal performance against Armenia in Yerevan.

Lucas Zelarayan gave the hosts the lead after just five minutes as Wales laboured to get out the blocks at the Republican Stadium. An own goal from Nair Tiknizyan just before half-time restored parity, but Rob Page's men seldom looked like building on that strike.

Indeed, Armenia had their chances to win it, with Vahan Bichakhchyan rattling the crossbar on the hour, before Danny Ward produced a fine save to keep out substitute Edgar Sevikyan at the death.

READ MORE:The results Wales now need to secure Euro 2024 qualification after frustrating Armenia draw

This result means Wales will now be relying on Croatia to drop points in their remaining two games if they are to finish in the top two of Group D. Luka Modric and co take on Latvia later on in the day, before ending their campaign at home to Armenia.

To see their fate slip through their own hands will be a tough pill to swallow for Page, who named an unchanged line-up from the one that secured that sensational win over Croatia in the last international break. That result was unquestionably the high point of what's been an eventful campaign. In contrast, the defeat to Armenia in Cardiff back in June was arguably the darkest hour of his rein.

This result only further cemented the hosts' status as Wales' kryptonite. Indeed they still haven't been beaten by a Welsh team after four competitive meetings. The result may also see questions over Page's future, which provided the background noise to the last camp, resurface.

Armenia, meanwhile, may feel they should have won this game, although despite such an impressive performance in Cardiff last time out, coach Oleksandr Petrakov vehemently denied his side were the favourites ahead of this clash, insisting "history doesn't repeat itself exactly".

Perhaps not. But history clearly repeats itself a little bit.

Indeed, just as he did in Cardiff, Zelarayan gave the hosts a deserved lead after just five minutes. Wales failed to deal with a corner delivered to the near post, and Joe Rodon inadvertently teed up the Al-Fateh star on the edge of the box with a poor clearance.

A cut inside, a drop of the shoulder and a vicious finish gave Wales keeper Ward no chance.

The fervent celebrations from the home fans were deafening, but Wales would have silenced them more or less straight away had David Brooks kept his shot down inside the area moments later.

Neco Williams then had an effort deflected wide, while Kieffer Moore guided a header off-target moments after Bichakhchyan had fizzed a daisy-cutter inches wide at the other end.

Wales continued to labour as the first half ticked on, and their frustrations were compounded just after half an hour when Chris Mepham was shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge on Zelarayan.

It means the centre-back will be suspended for Tuesday's clash with Turkey, although thoughts of that game were likely a million miles away as Wales continued to struggle.

Harry Wilson did force goalkeeper Ognjen Chancharevich into a fine fingertip save following arguably the best move of the game, with Brooks the architect, but quality was otherwise in short supply.

However, their equaliser came in far more direct circumstances on the stroke of half-time. A Connor Roberts long throw looked to have found the head Rodon at the near post, but replays suggest it was Armenia's Tiknizyan who got the final touch to put the ball in the net.

Rodon had to be alert at the other end after the interval, getting down brilliantly to block an effort from Grant-Leon Ramos after Eduard Spertsyan whistled an effort over the bar.

Welsh nerves continued to jangle. As too did Ward's crossbar after Bichakhchyan curled an effort onto the woodwork, with Zelarayan somehow conspiring to fire the rebound high over the bar.

Daniel James was introduced midway inside the second half, and helped tee up namesake Jordan on the edge of the area, but his low shot was just about kept out by the keeper.

Hovhannes Harutyunyan and Williams exchanged wayward efforts as the contest wore on, before Ethan Ampadu recklessly skied an effort miles over from distance.

Then again, Ampadu could well have won it late on, but his close-range header could only find the arms of the keeper. Ward then produced a superb save to keep out Sevikyan's stinging drive inside the area, and the Armenian sub then poked wide as the hosts piled on the pressure.

Much to their frustration, Armenia couldn't find the second breakthrough some may feel they deserved, and Wales found themsleves clinging on for a point that does little for their hopes of reaching Germany next summer.

Armenia: Chancharevich; Arutiunian, Haroyan (c), Calisir, Tiknizyan; Spertsyan, Bichakhchyan (Sevikyan 73), Iwu (Harutyunyan 63); Dashyan, Zelarayan, Ranos (Miranyan 73)

Subs: Buchev, Beglaryan, Voskanyan, Mkrtchyan, Sevikyan, Serobyan, Hovhannisya, Piloyan, Margaryan, Wbeymar

Wales: Ward; Roberts (Broadhead 79), Rodon, Mepham, Davies (c); J.James, Wilson (D.James 66), Ampadu, Williams; Brooks (Johnson 49), Moore

Subs: Hennessey, King, Lockyer, Bradshaw, Jay Dasilva, Morrell, Cabango, Huggins, Sheehan