Bale hails Welsh character

Both nations headed into the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium last night still searching for their first win of the campaign.

It was the home side who came out on top to end a disappointing spell that had resulted in them losing their first five games after Chris Coleman's appointment as manager.

Bale said: "We played some great stuff and we were a bit unlucky with some of the chances we missed.

"We played some great football and I think that showed in the end. It was a great evening.

"There was a lot of pressure on us coming into the game.

"We stood up to the challenge and got the vital three points which the whole nation needed.

"We are a strong nation, we've been together for many years now. We have all grown up together and we are very close.

"We showed the character on the pitch tonight to come back from 1-0 down and win."

Bale proved to have a key role in the match, winning and then converting a penalty to cancel out James Morrison's first-half opener, before snatching the winner with a minute to go.

As far as the Tottenham Hotspur man was concerned, the referee was correct to point to the spot after Shaun Maloney was judged to have tripped him in the box.

He said: "Someone clipped me and I went over. It was a simple penalty."

There was no dispute about Bale's second goal, a superb curling effort that left goalkeeper Allan McGregor with no chance.

The result leaves Scotland second bottom of Group A, a single point ahead of Macedonia and a point behind Wales.

But Bale does not believe the Scots' qualification hopes are over, saying: "No, I don't think so.

"It's one of those groups where everyone could beat everyone.

"There are still a lot of games to play and I think everybody is still involved."

The winger believes Wales can now look forward to Tuesday's clash in Croatia with renewed confidence after bouncing back from a 6-1 thrashing in Serbia.

Bale said: "It was the right reaction, it was the reaction we wanted.

"It was a massive game to kick-start the qualification campaign for us.

"We've got another game in a couple of days' time and we need to build on it.

"After a good performance and a good result like this, it has lifted the lads and given us more belief."