John Toshack admitted his young Wales side were not up to the task of handling World Cup-bound Poland in the Legia Stadium, Warsaw.

Poland are now five points clear of England in qualifying Group Six, with everything depending now on the clash with the English at Old Trafford next month.

Polish fans waited in the stadium for confirmation of England's shock defeat in Belfast and chanted 'Northern Ireland' long into the night.

And Wales boss Toshack insisted he was not surprised by the result from Belfast, adding: "The only thing that surprises me in football now is that people are still surprised by so-called shock results.

"Windsor Park is not the nicest of grounds to go to looking for a result and the Irish have produced something special."

Of his own team, Toshack said: "The England game on Saturday in front of 70,000 people took a lot out of my players physically and mentally.

"Then to have to come to Poland and play the best team in the group on such a difficult occasion was a bit too much for some of my lads.

"We have come up a bit short in both matches. Poland are a very good side and we did our best, but they were better, no question.

"For some of our lads playing in the lower divisions this was an experience they have never faced before.

"I can't blame them, they did their very best, but this Poland side are the best team in the group and it showed. Some of our lads did not play their best, but I can't blame them."

Poland boss Pawel Janas said: "I can only thank my players for their efforts because we knew Wales would be difficult. They were unlucky to lose in Vienna against Austria and pushed England all the way at the weekend.