 Bellamy celebrates his goal against Cyprus with Robert Earnshaw |
Craig Bellamy says Wales' 3-1 win over Cyprus proved his partnership with Rob Earnshaw can be a success. Earnshaw was replaced at half-time in Saturday's defeat to Slovakia and Wales boss John Toshack revealed he was close to dropping the Norwich striker.
But Earnshaw repaid Toshack's faith by scoring Wales' second goal against Cyprus, before Bellamy added the third.
"Rob is an exceptional player with very good movement. We can move defenders about," said captain Bellamy.
"We've only played with each other four or five times, and that's spread over a two or three year period.
"If you know football and you watch football you can see we can play together."
Toshack was disappointed by Earnshaw's overall play in Saturday's 5-1 defeat to Slovakia in Cardiff, and said he was tempted to replace him with either Cardiff City's Paul Parry or Wigan's David Cotterill.
Earnshaw was told in no uncertain terms he had to raise his game, and Toshack said he was delighted with the striker's response.
 | It's been a great, great honour to be captain - for me and my family - but at the end of the day I was a stand-in captain Wales captain Craig Bellamy |
"I spoke to Earnie, and I told him a few home truths and said he must do better," said Toshack.
"The decision to leave him in the side paid off. He scored a fine goal and could have had more.
"Unfortunately we do not have too much competition for places up front, but I know that Earnshaw and Bellamy can do damage as a partnership.
"They both scored and it was a much better performance. They can be satisfied with their games."
Bellamy said he felt extra responsibility to rally the troops after his "disastrous" first experience as Wales captain last Saturday.
And the Liverpool striker certainly led by example as he produced one of his finest displays in a Wales shirt.
"Saturday will never be wiped out, but this was a good response," said Bellamy, who scored his first goal for over two years to take his tally to 10 in 39 appearances.
"That was really what we wanted to come out and do - come up with a good result and a positive performance.
"Make no mistake - Cyprus were a decent side. The two boys up front are exceptional. They're very lively and have good movement."
Toshack said Bellamy's performance fully justified his decision to make him captain in Ryan Giggs' injury-enforced absence.
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Bellamy said he relished the extra responsibility on the field, but admitted he felt uncomfortable under the media spotlight.
"It's been a great, great honour to be captain - for me and my family - but at the end of the day I was a stand-in captain," he said.
"I don't mean to be sarcastic, but you [the media] create more of an issue out of the captaincy.
"Dealing with the media is something different I had to do. It's not something I've really done over the last two years.
"I don't mean any disrespect, but I just love playing football. That's really all I care about.
"There are one or two [journalists] who I don't like and that spoils it for the rest of you. It upset my family. I don't like that."
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