Wales continue to roll on under Craig Bellamy as Liam Cullen’s brace inspired his side to a thumping win over Iceland at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The Wales boss will have bigger targets in mind when it comes to the wider context of what’s so far been a fascinating reign. But promotion in the UEFA Nations League, secured courtesy of this result and Turkey’s defeat to Montenegro, and a six-match unbeaten run is certainly a nice start.

Wales, who previously hadn’t conceded at home in over five hours of football, didn’t have it all their own way on the night, with Andri Gudjohnsen handing the visitors an early lead.

But the hosts hauled themselves level courtesy of Cullen’s header, his first international goal, with the Swansea City striker pouncing again just before half-time to tuck home from close range.

In the reverse meeting earlier in the campaign, Wales threw away a two-goal lead in an eventful 2-2 draw in Reykjavik, but they were far more ruthless in the second half here, as goals from Brennan Johnson and Harry Wilson sealed a resounding win that ensures Wales are promoted to League A as the winners of Group B4.

The last time Wales beat Iceland in Cardiff, it was Gareth Bale’s brilliance that inspired the hosts to a thumping victory, a win that arguably provided another small but valuable paving stone in the road to Euro 2016.

Bellamy arguably doesn’t have that same level of stardust to lean on ten years on. But after declaring his ambition to take Wales to the top of international football this week, he will be hoping this will be a similarly important step on the journey to a third World Cup appearance.

Joe Rodon, making his 50th cap tonight, will clearly be central to those plans. The Leeds United centre-back one of three players to have played every minute under the current boss so far.

Changes were afoot again here, of course, with Bellamy making four alterations from the side that drew with Turkey last time out, with Daniel James making his first start under the current boss.

Danny Ward, preferred to Karl Darlow on this occasion, had to be alert after just four minutes to tip Isak Bergmann Johannesson’s rasping shot over the bar, an effort that was an early warning of Iceland’s intentions.

It was one Wales failed to heed and, after just eight minutes, they fell behind for the first time in the Bellamy era.

Ward initially did well to beat Orri Oskarsson’s header away, but was powerless to stop Gudjohnsen from firing an effort through his legs at the near post and into the net.

The Wales goalkeeper might well be disappointed to have been beaten in such circumstances, but it perhaps summed up his side’s sluggish start to this contest.

Johnson forced Ward’s opposite number Hakob Rafn Valdimarsson into a smart save moments later, an effort that would have been ruled out by the offside flag anyway, before Cullen scuffed a tame effort into the arms of the keeper nearly 10 minutes later.

Iceland’s momentum was clearly tempered by the loss of Osksarsson due to injury moments later, but the hosts still struggled to wrestle back control as the game ticked past half an hour.

But Wales, perhaps emboldened by those earlier openings, hung on in there, and admirably managed to haul themselves level in fine style.

Neco Williams, another of Bellamy’s mainstays so far, teed up Johnson near the corner of the box, and his crisp ball into the box was wonderfully flicked home by the head of Cullen, his first goal in a Wales shirt.

But the delight at restoring parity soon gave way to the realisation that Iceland remained a real threat. Gudjohsen prodded an effort wide, and then thrashed another shot over the bar a few minutes later.

Johnson stung the palms of the keeper as Wales continued to try and assert themselves, and their efforts were duly rewarded on the stroke of half-time.

Wilson was brilliant in breaking up play in midfield. Mark Harris was equally brilliant in slipping in Dan James, and his shot was parried into the path of Cullen, who duly tucked home.

Iceland responded after the break, with Ward on hand to tip Mikael Egill Ellertsson’s effort over the bar, while Ben Davies saw a header saved by Valdimarsson at the other end as the contest began to descend into a ragged end-to-end affair.

Williams cleared Thorsteinsson’s flick off the line, while Wilson forced a smart save with a one-on-one effort on the hour.

The next goal felt crucial for the direction of this contest, and thankfully it came the way of Wales, with Cullen turning provider, slipping in Johnson, who duly raced away before slotting home.

And Cullen was involved yet again for the fourth. His battle with the last man paving the way for Wilson to pounce on a loose ball following Ward’s punt upfield, and the Fulham man was on hand to curl a trademark beauty into the top corner.

A rugged affair at times, and plenty of room for improvement. But ultimately, another step in the right direction for this Wales team.

Wales: Ward; Williams, Cabango, Rodon, Davies (c), D.James (Thomas 73); Cullen, Sheehan (Roberts 88), Wilson, Johnson (J.James 88), Harris (Allen 65)

Subs: Darlow, King, Mepham, Norrington-Davies, Koumas, Colwill, Dasilva

Iceland: Valdimarsson; Fridriksson, Palsson, Ingason, Sampsted (Thorhallsson 74); Johannesson, Trautason, Thorsteinsson (Willumsson 74); Gudmundsson (c) (Thordarson 46), Oskarsson (Ellertsson 25), Gudjonsen

Subs: Olafsson, Petersson, Sigurgeirsson, Thorhallsson, W.Willumsson, Magnusson, J.Magnusson, Baldursson

Full-time

All over here.

Wales are in League A unless Turkey can produce something very special in added time.

4-1.

Wide

Thomas looks to dink a ball in.

Lands just wide of the post.

4-1.

Three minutes added on

Three minutes added on here.

4-1.

Double sub for Wales

Roberts and James on for Johnson and Sheehan.

4-1.

Yellow

Johannesson booked for a foul on Williams.

GOAL! Wales 4-1 Iceland (Wilson)

Route one ball from Ward isn't dealt with, and Wilson pounces on the loose ball before curling home.

4-1.

Montenegro winning

The Canton singing their praises.

Turkey are now 3-1 down.

As it stands, Wales are going up.

3-1.

Sub

Dan James makes way for Sorba Thomas.

2-1.

Yellow card

Trautason penalised for a foul on Wilson.

3-1.

GOAL! Wales 3-1 Iceland (Johnson)

Lovely stuff from Cullen.

Wins the ball in midfield and plays Johnson in behind the defence.

Scampers away and slots home.

3-1.

Sub for Wales

Allen replaces Harris.

2-1.

Is that a shot?

Williams fires a ball in from a tight angle.

Gathered by the keeper.

2-1.

Over

Ellertsson causing a few problems for Wales now.

His pass across the area is initially snuffed out by Davies, but Thorsteinsson is there nad snaps at it.

Over.

2-1.

Wilson clean through

One on one with the keeper.

Saved...

2-1.

Williams off the line

Ellertsson does really well to keep it in on the byline.

Hooks it to the near post and Thorsteinsson tries to flick home.

Williams is there to clear off the line.

2-1.

Bellamy booked

The Wales boss is shown a yellow card for remonstrating with the referee on the touchline.

2-1.

Save!

Davies sees an effort turned over the bar by the keeper.

Next corner ultimately comes to nothing.

2-1.

Corner

James looks to cut in and deliver a ball into the box.

Blocked for a corner.

2-1.

Offside

Corner sparks a bit of pinball inside the box before it's eventually fired wide.

Flag's up anyway.

2-1.

Ward forced into a save

Ellertsson lashes an effort goalwards, but it's tipped over by Ward.

2-1.

Over

James fires over.

2-1.

Second half

We're back underway here.

Sub for Iceland

Thordasson on for Gudmundsson.

Half-time

Well.

That was an eventful first half.

Wales have grown into this game really well, and are deserving of their lead as things stand.

GOAL! Wales 2-1 Iceland (Cullen)

The Kilgetty Messi's at it again!

It's brilliant from Wilson, who does really well to break up play before setting off Mark Harris. He slips in James, whose shot is parried into the path of Cullen, and he tucks home from close range.

2-1

Two shots

Johnson has an effort blocked by Fridriksson inside the box.

He recycles possession and slips in Wilson, whose low effort is straight at the keeper.

Two minutes added on here.

1-1.

Brilliant from Harris

Pinches the ball in midfield and drives forward.

Sprays out wide to Johnson and he stings the palms of the keeper.

Corner is played short, but eventually comes to nothing.

1-1

Over

Gudjohnson fires over from close range after being teed up by a cushioned header across the box.

1-1.

Cabango nods away

Thorsteinsson's dinked cross from the byline takes a deflection as it heads across goal.

Cabango is there to nod away on the line.

1-1

GOAL! Wales 1-1 Iceland (Cullen)

Lovely stuff Liam.

Johnson's teed up nicely for a cross near the corner of the box.

Chipped in and Cullen rises brilliantly to flick his header into the corner of the net.

Really good goal. Cullen's first for his country.

1-1