Wales' Nathan Blake challenges Milan Fikal

Andy Melville was handed the honour of leading Wales out for the first time, with the occasion made all the more special as the Fulham defender was winning his 50th cap.

The Fulham player was handed the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Gary Speed, one of 11 drop-outs from the initial 26 named by manager Mark Hughes.

In contrast, Czech coach Karel Bruckner was without only one player from his original 19-man squad, Juventus star Pavel Nedved who had withdrawn with tonsilitis.

In front of 20,000 fans, any nerves from Nottingham Forest's Darren Ward in the Wales goal were settled after just two minutes as he brilliantly turned aside a stinging drive from Liverpool striker Vladimir Smicer.

Wales, wearing their away strip of yellow and pale blue as the Czechs were in their traditional red, struggled to make any early impression on their visitors.

Wolves' Nathan Blake resorted to a blatant dive in the penalty area while under challenge from Tomas Ujfalusi of Hamburg, earning just a yellow card for his troubles from Danish referee Claus Bo-Larsen.

Darren Ward earned praise in the Wales goal

At the other end, Ward was raising the question of why there has been a gap of two years between his first cap and his second, producing a string of fine saves.

First Smicer was denied, then Milan Fukal's point-blank header was parried over the bar, with Tomas Ujfalusi of Hamburg glancing a header inches wide from the resulting corner.

The Czech Republic should have taken the lead in the 31st minute when Jiri Stajner caught the Wales defence square, setting Kaiserslautern striker Vratislav Lokvenc free.

Lokvenc was faced with only Ward to beat, but despite a powerful right-foot drive the Forest keeper stood his ground and reacted superbly to push the ball away.

Man-of-the-match Ward wasn't the only fresh face to impress, with Cardiff's young left-back Danny Gabbidon looking like he belonged in international company.

Wales only real chance before the break was a snap shot from Jason Koumas - who earlier in the day spurned the chance to join promotion-chasing West Brom from Tranmere for �2.7million - beaten away by Czech keeper Petr Cech.

Wales' John Robinson takes on Tomas Rosicky

Both managers rang the changes at the break but most significant was the arrival on the field for the Czech Republic of giant 6ft 8in striker Jan Koller.

The Borussia Dortmund player unsettled the Wales defence and only an offside decision saved the home side as Koller powered a header past Coyne from eight yards.

Just after the hour mark Wales had a rare chance, with 19-goal Celtic striker John Hartson flicking a header straight at Czech substitute keeper Martin Vaniak from a Koumas free-kick.

Wales had a chance to grab a late win when Koumas and replacement Simon Davies combined delightfully down the right, only for the Spurs midfielder's cross to fizz harmlessly across the face of goal.

Koller had two gilt-edged chances to grab the win for the Czechs, only to first misdirect a header, then fire a shot inches wide of Coyne's left-hand post.

Wales: Ward, Delaney, Gabbidon, Melville, Page, John Robinson, Koumas, Savage, Davies, Hartson, Blake. Subs: Taylor, Jenkins, Trollope, Weston, Coyne, Young, Evans.

Czech Republic: Cech, Fukal, Novotny, Ujfalusi, Galasek, Jankulovski, Poborsky, Rosicky, Smicer, Lokvenc, Stajner. Subs: Koller, Sionko, Holenak, Huebschmann, Vaniak, Johana, Kolousek.

Referee: Claus Bo-Larsen (Denmark)