Wales 2 Northern Ireland 2: They played Motorhead on the Tannoy last night and oh how venomous heavy metal was appropriate music for this riot of a match writes Michael Walker at the Millennium Stadium.

Three red cards and three goals in the first 32 minutes alone tell their own story and the thrashing continued as Wales chased the surprise Irish lead for more than an hour.

Robbie Savage will miss the England game. In the ninth minute both Savage and Michael Hughes of Northern Ireland were sent off for scuffling. It was Savage's first dismissal in his professional career.

The Irish then went 2-0 up through Jeff Whitley and David Healy, but Healy was shown two yellow cards immediately on scoring. The second was for an alleged abusive gesture but Healy disputes that and the Irish will surely appeal.

John Hartson pulled one back against the nine men but there was a long wait until the 74th minute when Robert Earnshaw delivered an equaliser. Lawrie Sanchez's men were tired and no doubt emotional well before then but they deserved their point at least.

Sanchez had a problem even before the game kicked off. Keith Gillespie, one of Northern Ireland's most high-profile players, was not even named among the substitutes.

Gillespie (29), now at Leicester City, apparently took exception to not playing any part against Poland on Saturday and made his feelings known. He travelled to Cardiff and trained but it seems Sanchez has imposed his authority. The decision may end Gillespie's international career.

Mark Hughes, too, had made changes, leaving out Andy Melville and bringing in James Collins of Cardiff City.

However, formations and managers' plans were soon redundant. An explosive first 11 minutes featured the two dismissals and Whitley's amazing opener - amazing if only because his shooting last Saturday was abysmal.

The stadium was still recovering from the dismissal of Savage and Michael Hughes when Whitley struck.

There was a sense of matters getting beyond referee Messina's control as soon as he failed to dismiss Paul Jones for a handball outside his area in the sixth minute.

The Irish were annoyed by that and when Messina then awarded a drop ball, Damien Johnson and Ben Thatcher competed robustly for it. Johnson had to be warned as the drop ball was retaken and Wales then broke away through Savage.

Michael Hughes raced after Savage and a two-footed high tackle felled his opponent. An angry Savage retaliated and Hughes swung a punch in return. A melee ensued, after which two red cards were shown.

Play went on regardless and when a Northern Ireland attack ended with Whitley, the Sunderland midfielder jinked one way and sent an 18-yard shot past Jones.

The atmosphere was electric. Maik Taylor tipped away a Jason Koumas free-kick and when the ball was swept up the other end Collins slipped just at the wrong moment.

Healy was there to pounce. Jones came off his line and managed a touch on Healy's lob over him. But Healy persevered and when the ball dropped Healy nodded it in.

Healy was in front of exclusively Welsh fans and kicked the corner flag out. Messina deemed that celebration excessive and showed a yellow card.

Healy then received abuse and when he made a gesture Messina produced another. Healy was staggered and Northern Ireland were down to nine men.

But they were two goals up, which was close on unbelievable. Mark Hughes responded. He took off a defender, Mark Delaney, brought on an attacker, Robert Earnshaw.

Yet Tony Capaldi almost made it 3-0 for the Irish before Wales began to impose their numerical superiority.

Bellamy was everywhere and it was his cross on 32 minutes that Hartson headed in to restore some Welsh belief.

Wales were showing signs of stress when John Oster, who was lively still, swung in a cross and Earnshaw supplied a strong header.

WALES (4-4-2): Jones; Delaney (Earnshaw, 28), Collins, Gabbidon, Thatcher (Parry, 63); Oster, Savage, Speed, Koumas; Bellamy (Newcastle), Hartson (Celtic). Booked: Hartson. Sent off: Savage.

NORTHERN IRELAND (5-3-2): Taylor; Clyde (Wolves), Williams, A Hughes, Murdock, Capaldi; Johnson, Whitley, M Hughes; Quinn (Smith, 58), Healy. Booked: Taylor, Capaldi. Sent off: M Hughes, Healy.

Referee: D Messina (Italy).