Chris Coleman has confessed that Wales had "lady luck" to thank for getting past Northern Ireland and booking a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.
The Red Dragons failed to match the high levels set in the 3-0 win over Russia last time out, but were able to get over the line thanks to a Gareth McAuley own goal 15 minutes from time at the Parc des Princes.
Bale played a crucial role in the breakthrough moment, charging down the left and sending in a dangerous cross that the Irish defender could only turn past his own keeper from a few yards out to create more Welsh history in Paris.
Coleman's men now have a quarter-final tie against either Belgium or Hungary to look forward to in their first ever appearance at the European Championship finals, although the Wales boss admits that it could have been a very different story on the day.
"In terms of how far we can go, I've already said we won't look past the next challenge," he told reporters. "This is brilliant - lady luck shone on us, but we earned it. Hungary and Belgium pose different problems but we'll worry about that tomorrow. We must enjoy this.
"We didn't play well at all, but that wasn't our fault - it was credit to Northern Ireland who did what they do very well and make it difficult for opponents. I'm not taking anything way from our boys. It was an ugly win but who cares. We've sat here before and played well and not got a result.
"It's a good sign because we've had to win in different ways. You have to feel for Michael O'Neill who's done a fantastic job. It won't make it any easy, for them , they'll be disappointed, but they've done brilliantly. I wasn't looking forward to it because I knew it was going to be tough. We didn't play as well as we could but that's credit to Northern Ireland."
Wales have now lost just two of their nine fixtures at major tournaments, one on which came against England as they topped the Group B standings.
