WALES stars Jess Fishlock and Helen Ward have hit back at criticism over the staging of next month’s crunch 2019 Women’s World Cup qualifier against England at Rodney Parade.

Tickets for the match on August 31 sold out in less than 24 hours earlier this month with 5,000 fans snapping them up.

The attendance will be the highest ever for a Wales women’s home match and victory for Jayne Ludlow’s side against Phil Neville’s England will mean they automatically qualify for next year’s World Cup in France.

But an article published by The Guardian this week says that the decision to play the match on a “questionable pitch” in Newport “lacks ambition” and argues that a bigger venue should have been considered so that more fans could attend.

BBC Sport journalist Suzy Wrack, who publishes a weekly women’s football blog for Guardian Sport, wrote: “Next month’s fixture offers a huge opportunity for the Welsh FA to boost interest in women’s football.

“Their choice, then, to host the crunch fixture at Newport County’s Rodney Parade – capacity 7,850 – is disappointing. Tickets sold out within 24 hours – with England’s allocation gone within hours of their release.

“The attendance will far surpass the hosts’ record crowd, thought to be less than 4,000, yet it is hard not to think that the decision to play the game in Newport lacks ambition.”

She adds: “This is a game ripe with opportunity. Schools are out, it is a game where a vibrant home crowd will be important and both teams are yet to lose in qualifying.

“There was so much potential for this game, with some savvy marketing, to explode in Wales.

“Instead we find ourselves a month away from a match worthy of promotion and hype but for which fans, Welsh or otherwise, can no longer buy tickets. It’s a crying shame.”

Wales’ most capped player Fishlock responded to the article on Twitter, writing: “Wales sell out record crowd for England crunch match in less than 24 hours probs would’ve been the title of my article.

“Please don’t question our ambition. Thankyou.”

South Wales Argus:

And Wales’ record goalscorer Ward (above) added: “We have a sold out ground which is set to smash our record and our fans are the Red Wall, the ones who have been there for us. So yeah, we’re cool with it. Plus, we love Newport.”

Cwmbran’s Danny Gabbidon, who won 49 caps for the men’s team, also responded to the debate.

The former Cardiff City, West Ham United and Queens Park Rangers defender said: “Ask the players whether their ambition for this game is to play in front of a one off bumper crowd or achieve the unthinkable and qualify for a major tournament. [They are] doing things their own way.”

Wrack defended her article after the online criticism and responded directly to Fishlock’s comments: “Not questioning the ambition of the team at all. Apologies if it comes across that way.

“Think in women’s football there is a tendency for governing bodies to think small (unconsciously). I think there was a genuine opportunity to build up massive momentum behind this game and attract a much bigger crowd (not of England fans).

“The fact it sold out in 24 hours shows the potential there. Especially with the game in school holidays. Have loved watching the team play and hope you qualify.”