JOSH Sheehan said captaining Wales for the first time was a “proud day” despite the team being held to a frustrating draw by international minnows Gibraltar.

Rob Page’s side were unable to find a breakthrough in Faro against a side ranked 203rd in the world and were jeered by the travelling supporters at the final whistle.

A Welsh team containing five debutants created very little in the first half but as Page introduced more of his senior players from the bench wasted a few good chances later in the game to avoid embarrassment.

Speaking after the game, Sheehan admitted it had been a difficult 90 minutes.

“We knew what we were coming into and what type of team they were going to be,” he said. “They were obviously going to make it difficult for us, and time-waste like they did. We obviously didn’t do enough to get a goal but there were a lot of debuts today and it’s a big thing for them to get some minutes in a Welsh shirt, so that’s us.”

Wales were followed to the Algarve by around 900 fans, where Sheehan led the team in his first international start.

The 29-year-old was booked in the first half for a high challenge on Gilbraltar’s Tijay De Barr but settled as the game went on and nearly made the breakthrough just after half time when he hit the post direct from a corner.

Ben Cabango had a header cleared off the line and debutant Lewis Koumas was denied by a smart save from Gilbraltar keeper Jaylan Hankins.

“We go into every game wanting to win it and today we didn’t do enough,” Sheehan said. “But we know we are good enough as a team. It didn’t help today with how dry the pitch was, with what we’d been working on, but moving forward that is what we have got to deal with and put up with.”

Nevertheless on a personal level Sheehan was honoured to have been picked as captain of his country and he will now travel to Slovakia for a final summer friendly on Sunday.

He said: “As I’d said before it is something I’d never thought about going later on into my career so to get here now and wear the armband, wear the shirt, it is something you dream of as a kid. It’s a proud day for me and my family.”

Meanwhile, former Wanderers Under-18s winger Anthony Pinto scored on his debut for Hong Kong in a 4-2 defeat against Iran in the World Cup Qualifiers.