NEWPORT’S Chris Gunter insists the Welsh players are disappointed at failing to secure qualification to next summer’s European Championships, but he’s confident it’s just a matter of time.

Wales need only a point, at most, from their final two games to ensure qualification after 58-years of major tournament hurt after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Israel.

And the Newport-born defender, whose parents still live in the heart of the city, believes the champagne is merely on ice.

“It’s mixed emotions, because we know what could have happened if we got that goal, but we will respect a point and move on,” he explained.

“We are another point closer and yes, we will have to be patient for a few more weeks, but we are very close now and it has been a very good week. Four points is a good return from two very difficult games.”

Gunter admits it was a frustrating contest when his team just needed to ensure they didn’t lose, having failed to find an early goal.

“We had two penalty shouts; decisions are different in international football to club football. And yes, we had a couple of shouts, but we’ve never relied on others during this campaign,” he explained.

“On the whole it was a good performance, they were sitting right in and it was difficult for us, with the crowd who obviously want us to chuck everything forward.

“We had to remain professional. Ultimately, if we weren’t going to win it, we definitely weren’t going to lose it and we remain unbeaten in the group and move on.

“It says something they parked the bus, it shows massive respect to us and shows how things have changed.

“It was a little bit surprising that they played like that, they could have probably have done with all three points and we expected them to come at us a little bit more.

“It’s four points for the week though, we are ever closer and it would have to probably be a strange set of events to see us not qualify.

“So it seems a bit disappointing to not get the job done at the first opportunity, but I think when we wake up and see the tables, we’ll be pretty pleased.”

Gunter was unaware that Cyprus could have earned Wales a reprieve on Sunday, but believes the party time the fans are looking for is coming.

“I didn’t know there was a chance Cyprus could qualify us until some of the boys mentioned it,” he said.

“It would have been great if it had happened, but it is on us, we take a good point that shows how far we’ve come, we are top of the group after eight games and yet we feel disappointed!

“It’s a tribute to what we’ve done as a group.

“We’ve often been out of it by now, we are top of the group with 18 points and a lot of things would have to happen for us not to qualify now, Israel need to win in Belgium, for example.

“There is a touch of feeling ‘we wanted to do it on the night for ourselves and the fans’ but we’ve waited such a long time, you can wait a few weeks probably. It’s been 57-years!”