Lessons to be learned as Wales chase top spot

But the return fixture had a very different look, with Wales struggling for fluency in possession as Albania sat deep but carried a threat on the counter-attack.

"At the minute, we're probably not seeing Wales at their best and we've struggled at times to break down teams who sit back," said another ex-Wales forward Helen Ward on BBC Radio Wales.

"That's where a Jess Fishlock can do something magic.

"We don't have her anymore, so someone else is going to have to take that responsibility."

The one goal Wales did manage was as scrappy as their performance, Roberts bundling home from a Lily Woodham cross with Albania claiming the ball had gone in off the veteran defender's arm.

There were other opportunities for Wales, Mared Griffiths coming close on a couple of occasions and Ingle shooting straight at Albania keeper Rajmonda Spahiu having seen an earlier effort ruled out for offside.

Had one or two of those chances been converted, the evening would have had a different feel.

As it was, there was tension in the air right up until the final whistle, with Safia Middleton-Patel making a late save from Fortesa Berisha having earlier seen Ilarja Zarka's drive rattle the bar.

"I thought Albania were really good," said Ingle. "They blocked up, made it hard for us.

"They defended really well and they nearly punished us on a few transition attacks, so we were quite lucky at times."

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Wales eye 'special night' in Cardiff

Victory means Wales remain second in Group B1, behind the Czech Republic - who won 5-1 in Albania last month – on goal difference.

Wilkinson's team go to Montenegro next, on Saturday, 5 June, before finishing the group phase with a game against the Czechs in Cardiff four days later.

Wales will hope for a more comfortable victory against Montenegro – who they beat 6-1 in Llanelli in March – than they managed in Albania, while the Czechs will expect a home win over the Albanians.

That would leave the group's two top sides level on points going into the fixture which has looked like being pivotal since they drew 2-2 in the opening game of this campaign, with teams who finish level on points initially separated by head-to-head records.

"We have Montenegro away and then we finish at home to Czech Republic so it could all ride on that last game," Ingle said.

"Being at home in Cardiff, it will be a really special night."

All being well, there could be another party in the dressing room - though Wales must be better than they were in Albania to overcome the Czechs.