Stocker grabs brace in Wales loss
Valentin Stocker struck twice as Switzerland sent Wales crashing to their third successive Euro 2012 qualifying defeat - a 4-1 loss at Basle's St Jakob Park.
Brian Flynn's side performed creditably for most of a pulsating contest but a Gokhan Inler penalty and Stocker's second finished them off in the final eight minutes.
Gareth Bale was a constant threat to the Swiss and cancelled out an early Stocker goal after 13 minutes but the hosts soon reclaimed a lead they did not surrender through Marco Streller.
It made for a miserable 55th birthday for Brian Flynn who, in his second and final match as caretaker manager, was hoping to prove his suitability for the job full time. They attacked at every opportunity and in Bale had a man that worried the Swiss, but defensive mistakes proved their undoing.
Switzerland suffered a blow after eight minutes as goalkeeper Diego Benaglio, returning after missing Friday's loss to Montenegro through injury, was forced off. Marco Wolfli took his place and had been on the field just a matter of seconds when the Swiss launched an attack that led to their opening goal.
Wayne Hennessey did well to beat out a fierce drive from Tranquillo Barnetta but Streller nodded across the six-yard box for Stocker to head home.
Welsh heads did not drop and they produced the perfect reply five minutes later as the lively Andrew Crofts won a 50-50 ball and sent Bale racing through on goal. The Tottenham star showed a cool head to lift the ball over the advancing Wolfli for Wales' first goal of the competition.
Wales were exposed again after 21 minutes as Darcy Blake missed a chance to clear and Inler clipped the ball into the box. Streller made no mistake as he flicked the ball past Wayne Hennessey with his left foot.
The match was settled eight minutes from time when referee Alain Hamer harshly penalised James Collins for a trip on Barnetta and pointed to the spot.
Inler made no mistake and it got worse for Wales as Stocker turned home an Eren Derdiyok cross with 89 minutes on the clock.
