IT wasn’t pretty, but Newport’s red army can now begin to dream.

Wales need just three more wins to do the unthinkable and win their first ever international trophy following a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland.

The game in Paris marked the first time two British sides went toe to toe in a knockout match and the Dodger pub at Chepstow Road was rammed for the occasion.

There was not a green shirt in site - an exclusively Welsh zone – and although Wales were overwhelming favourites, it proved an incredibly tense evening for the 50 or so punters.

What a contrast to the nervous excitement pre-match. Maria Davies, who arranged for a day off for the game, said: “We can’t wait – it’s about time isn’t it?”

Every every missed tackle, every offside decision, was met by an Ooh or an aah by the revellers and they will have been thankful that the dreaded penalty shootout was not required.

Relief finally came on the 75th minute, when Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley put through his own net.

Giving her reaction, Karen Chapman, whose been the landlady of the pub for 14 years, said: “The atmosphere when they score is like, ‘Oh my God’. The roof comes down.”

Simon Ambrige, 36, who’s originally from England, said: “It’s nice to see Wales doing well. It’s’ the first tournament they’ve qualified for in 58 years.”

The last time Wales made the quarter-final of an international tournament, a Brazilian teenager named Pele broke their hearts.

They’ll hope, this time around, they can at least go one better with Belgium potentially lying in wait.

Chris Richards, 28, whose the chairman of Newport YMCA, believes there’s a fateful “12 year thing” in the offing following the unfancied Denmark’s win in 1992 and Greece’s win in 2004.

He said: “We’ve got enough to beat anyone but we don’t quite know it. I’d much prefer Hungary in the next round than Belgium, even though we beat them in qualifying.”

Paul Chapman, 51, from Maindee added: “If Leicester can win the Premier League, why can’t Wales win the Euros?”