‘Our confidence is rising,’ – Collins

Though Bulgaria created a number of chances, Toshack's side looked lively in attack as they prepare to open their campaign against the Czech Republic.

Newport's Collins made a number of important interventions in the heart of defence alongside West Ham teammate Danny Gabbidon to ensure Wales have conceded just one goal in four matches, and believes confidence is rising in the ranks.

The defender said: "The team we put out in the first half was really strong and every credit to the boys that came on, they performed well, maybe even better, so it's great for everybody involved to look forward to the qualifiers in good form.

"The squad is really confident, the results we have had coming up to this game and then tonight has to give us a boost really.

"We have kept clean sheets, defended well and looked lively going forward against a number of international teams now, so hopefully we can carry that into games coming up and get a few wins.

"There's always things we can improve on and the defending is one of them.

"They created a few chances but we kept a clean sheet and there were a few good blocks. We can work on it but we also looked really lively going forward."

Collins' former West Ham team-mate Carl Fletcher was in agreement they are on the right track.

The Crystal Palace man played 51 minutes before being replaced due to a tiring championship schedule, but the Ebbw Vale man had seen enough to be heartened.

"It was a good workout against a strong Bulgaria side," he said. "It was hard because some of us have played more than others over the last few weeks and I was tired because I had played 90 minutes on Sunday.

"But it was nice to get back together ahead of the qualifiers, it was just a shame that we couldn't get the win.

"It was frustrating, but that's football and the important thing was that the performance was there, once you get that the results tend to look after themselves."