\n<\/p>\n
Centre-back Joe Rodon said it was the first time this Wales team had seen Bellamy in such a rage.<\/p>\n
For anyone who followed the 46-year-old as a player, it would come as no surprise. The former Liverpool and Manchester City forward courted controversy on and off the field over the course of a career packed with notable achievements but several flashpoints too.<\/p>\n
As much as Bellamy might have mellowed as a coach, his half-time tirade demonstrated that his fiery temper is still in there somewhere.<\/p>\n
And frankly, the game was so insipid that it needed something \u2013 or someone \u2013 to liven it up.<\/p>\n
This, after all, was not how Wales had imagined Tuesday would play out.<\/p>\n
This was meant to be another of those famous nights under the Cardiff City Stadium lights, with a place at the World Cup on the line.<\/p>\n
Instead, what Wales got was a friendly against Northern Ireland. At home, yes, but not the game they wanted. In fact, it was a match nobody wanted.<\/p>\n
Having lost their World Cup play-off semi-finals against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Italy respectively five days earlier, given the choice, Wales and Northern Ireland would probably have had the night off to wallow.<\/p>\n
Or at least that was the option a large number of fans appeared to have opted for, judging by the empty seats.<\/p>\n
The match had been a sell-out in terms of tickets sold, with Wales fans encouraged to buy in advance to guarantee their place in the event of a play-off final against Italy.<\/p>\n
Given the gut-wrenching nature of their penalty shootout defeat against Bosnia, it was understandable that many of them couldn’t stomach this fixture.<\/p>\n
Northern Ireland supporters, meanwhile, had been offered refunds by their association, who sensed the lack of appetite, even if their defeat in Italy had been less of a sickener.<\/p>\n
Still, it could have been worse. When these sides met in the short-lived Nations Cup 15 years ago, only 530 people turned up at Dublin’s cavernous Aviva Stadium to watch a Wales side featuring Bellamy win 2-0.<\/p>\n
The sense of apathy did not reach those depths at Cardiff City Stadium, which was still close to three-quarters full, but it was undoubtedly flat.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n