Giggs crossed from the left, and Saunders cracked a first-time effort into the net from 18 yards. It was, however, too little too late.BULGARIA: Mikhailov (Levski Sofia); Kremenliev (Levski Sofia), Ivanov (Neuchtel Xamax), Zvetanov (Levski Sofia), Hubchev (Hamburg), Yankov (Valladolid), Kostadinov (Bayern Munich), Stoichkov (Barcelona), Penev (Valencia), Lechkov (Hamburg), Balakov (VfB Stuttgart). Substitute: Kiryakov (CSKA Sofia) for Zvetanov, 85.WALES: Southall (Everton); Phillips (Nottingham Forest), Bowen (Norwich), Jones (Wimbledon), Melville (Sunderland), Coleman (Crystal Palace), Horne (Everton), Hartson (Arsenal), Saunders (Aston Villa), Speed (Leeds), Giggs (Manchester United). Stoichkov crossed from the left and Penev climbed high to head powerfully into the roof of the net.Wales were able to make an instant reply. The Bayern Munich man’s shot might have defeated Southall but a big deflection off Penev’s chest gave the goalkeeper no chance.Swansea’s John Cornforth made his debut in place of Jones 12 minutes from time but four minutes later Wales’ fourth straight defeat – their worst sequence in 26 years – was confirmed.

Bulgaria’s pressure was rewarded when Hristo Stoichkov slipped the ball to Balakov, and the midfielder who is on his way to VfB Stuttgart from Sporting Lisbon thumped the ball past the flailing fingers of Southall and in off the far post.Southall, quite magnificent, denied Penev (twice) and Balakov and Wales might even have snatched a shock equaliser in the 68th minute when a dreadful error from Petar Hubchev saw a Saunders shot blocked by the diving Mikhailov.Two minutes later, though, Balakov found some space down the right and crossed for Emil Kostadinov. With the captain, Barry Horne, adding an extra defensive shield in front of Chris Coleman and Andy Melville, Bulgaria were reduced to long-range efforts in the early stages.In the 14th minute, Wales nearly scored when Ryan Giggs, back after a three-game absence, floated in a right-wing corner, Jones headed back across goal and Coleman, four yards out, saw his effort turned over by Borislav Mikhailov.Arsenal’s John Hartson was a lone front man on his international debut with Saunders forced to track back. Although Neville Southall gave an inspired display in the Welsh goal, there was nothing even he could do to prevent two second-half strikes from Valencia’s Luboslav Penev.However, Wales, to their credit, were a far different proposition to the team which had subsided to embarrassing losses against Moldova, Georgia and in the first meeting against the Bulgarians, and they gained some reward when Dean Saunders netted his 15th international goal seven minutes from the end.Vinnie Jones’ brief was to follow Hamburg’s Yordan Lechkov, and the Wimbledon man stuck to his task with relish. The shivering home supporters had to wait 37 minutes for Krassimir Balakov to put their team ahead with a superb shot.

Beaten 3-0 in Cardiff in the autumn, Wales at least managed to score this time, but another defeat means the end of any lingering hopes of qualification from Group Seven.The Bulgarians had drafted in 200 soldiers to clear the pitch of the six inches of snow that had fallen overnight. Cantona is banned from playing anywhere in the world until October after his fracas with a fan at Selhurst Park in January.. Bulgaria 3

Wales 1
Mike Smith’s embattled Welsh team predictably found little joy against the World Cup semi-finalists in Sofia yesterday. The Milan club has apparently contacted Manchester United’s chairman, Martin Edwards, in the hope of reaching an agreement to sign the French international. Smith has not played since damaging his cartilage in the first cup match against Millwall.Internazionale are believed to be pursuing Eric Cantona more vigorously. Campbell has had micro-surgery on a disc problem and will not be able to train for another six weeks. He has already spent five weeks flat on his back after aggravating the injury, which he first suffered in the FA Cup replay with Millwall at Highbury in January.The club had better news of another striker, Alan Smith, who is expected to resume training next week following knee surgery.

Plymouth are struggling to avoid falling into the Third Division.The former Plymouth manager, Dave Smith, who is running a coaching school in Devon, is being tipped to take charge again at Home Park in a caretaker capacity. Another possible candidate is Russell Osman, who was sacked by Bristol City earlier this season and is Plymouth’s reserve team player- coach on a non-contract basis.McCall will stay as a player to see out a contract that has another year to run.Kevin Campbell, the Arsenal striker, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after having an operation on a back injury. McCall, who took his decision after a meeting with the chairman, Don McCauley, yesterday, was appointed in January as successor to Peter Shilton. He had limited means to deal in the transfer market, but he did beat the deadline with the £600,000 purchase of the striker Brett Angell from Everton last week.Another relegation-threatened club, Plymouth Argyle also said farewell to their player-manager Steve McCall, who resigned after less than three months in charge. “We have a very difficult task ahead, but I am sure with the help of the supporters we have a greater chance of staying up.”We have a very difficult task ahead, but I am sure with the help of the supporters we have a greater chance of staying up.”I saw Sunderland at Oldham earlier in the season, when I thought they were unfortunate to lose – but it’s obvious where the problems lie.”Buxton, 51, succeeded Terry Butcher at his hometown club in December 1993. “There isn’t anyone better at getting a syndicate together and raising money,” somebody said “Perhaps that is where Dennis sees his future. On the other hand he could lose this one and come back again.