WALES survived an onslaught of pressure from Bosnia-Herzegovina to move to the top of Group B after a nerve-shredding Euro 2016 qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium.

This was a far cry from the 2012 friendly in Llanelli when Wales were beaten 2-0 by the Bosnians in front of just 6,253 fans.

A passionate crowd of more than 30,000 enjoyed a pulsating encounter on this occasion as Chris Coleman's men at last looked like a team who believe they have a chance of qualifying for a major tournament.

With Gareth Bale below his best for much of the match they weren’t able to threaten the visitors as much as they would have liked.

But an inspired display from goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and the five-man defence marshalled by skipper Ashley Williams ensured that they secured a vital point.

Coleman made only two changes from last month’s Bale-inspired win in Andorra with Joe Ledley and Jonathan Williams replacing crocked pair Aaron Ramsey and Joe Allen.

Wing-backs Neil Taylor and Chris Gunter were encouraged to get forward as often as possible.

And it was Newport’s Gunter who was Wales’ best player in a bright start for the hosts.

He galloped down the right flank to create early opportunities for Andy King and Bale but both were blocked by the Bosnian defence.

The Reading man also had a chance of his own when Taylor’s cross from the left evaded the men in the middle and Gunter volleyed just over with his left foot.

By contrast Bale had a quiet first half, perhaps trying too hard to make something happen.

Whether the pressure to do it all on his own got to the Real Madrid star or not he was unusually wasteful in possession and his delivery from set-pieces was also poor.

His best chance came from a long ball forward from the left by Ben Davies but he couldn’t direct the difficult volley goalwards.

Bosnia offered little in the early stages apart from a few long distance efforts from Miralem Pjanic, which didn’t unduly concern Hennessey.

But Safet Susic’s side enjoyed more of the possession and the majority of the chances as the half wore on.

Vedad Ibisevic headed straight at Hennessey from a corner just after the half hour mark and the striker was convinced he should have had a penalty a minute before the break.

James Chester stuck out a leg and he was probably fortunate that Ibisevic exaggerated the fall, allowing the referee to wave play on.

Manchester City star Edin Dzeko was on the margins of the game until the stroke of half-time when he ghosted beyond Ashley Williams but his header was not powerful enough to trouble Hennessey.

The Crystal Palace stopper had to be at his very best at the start of the second half, however.

He saved brilliantly at close range from Haris Medunjanin’s flick and then tipped Dzeko’s header round the post before again denying Medunjanin, diving low down to his left.

The visitors were beginning to look like a side who played at the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

But, while it remained 0-0, Wales knew that one moment of magic from the world’s most expensive footballer could win them the game.

And it nearly did on 78 minutes when Bale whipped in an outstanding free-kick from the left that Ashley Williams could only head over the top with the goal at his mercy.

The chances kept coming at the other end and dangerman Pjanic was creating panic in the home defence, as he did all night.

He was inches away from snatching all three points with a 25-yard free-kick that left Hennessey scrambling to his right and grateful to see it curl just wide.

The Roma star again brought out the best in Hennessey from another set-piece near the end, forcing the Welsh number one into a stunning save as he dived high to his right to earn what could turn out to be a precious point on the road to France.

It could have been more as Bale belatedly came to life in the closing stages and almost won it but three points against Cyprus on Monday will put Coleman’s men in a commanding position.

Wales: Hennessey, Gunter, N.Taylor, Chester, Davies, A.Williams, King, Church (Robson-Kanu, 65), Bale, Ledley, J.Williams (G.Williams, 82)

Subs not used: O.Williams, Letheren, D.Edwards, Cotterill, Gabbidon, Ricketts, Lawrence, G.Edwards, J.Taylor Booked: Taylor, Chester, A.Williams

Bosnia: Begovic, Besic, Medunjanin, Ibisevic (Hajrovic,83), Pjanic, Dzeko, Mujdza, Susic, Sunjic, Lulic, Hadzic

Subs not used: Fejzic, Dujkovic, Vrsajevic, Vranjes, Cimirot, Prcic, Visca, Kvesic

Booked: Hadzic, Pjanic, Dzeko Referee: Vladislav Bezborodov (Russia)

Attendance: 30,741

Argus star man: Hennessey