BURNLEY striker Sam Vokes admits the mentality of Wales’ players has had to change as they get used to being the hunted rather than the hunter.

Chris Coleman’s side caused a major shock when they reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016 a year ago, but progress hasn’t been as smooth since.

Wales sit third in their qualifying group for the 2018 World Cup and they face a crucial trip to Belgrade on Sunday to face Serbia, who together with the Republic of Ireland sit four points clear at the top.

Vokes scored in the 4-0 win over Moldova on the opening day of qualifying, but since then Wales have drawn with Austria, Serbia, Georgia and Ireland to leave them with work to do.

And Clarets’ top scorer Vokes has noticed a change in approach from sides facing Wales after their success of a year ago.

“I think the whole mentality has changed with it,” he said. “Now we’re getting big crowds, we’re filling grounds, in the previous group we were probably getting five or six thousands fans.

“It’s a completely different mentality on the match day and the away team probably thrive on that, they want to beat Wales now, it’s getting harder to play against that but that’s what you have to deal with when you have that amount of success.”

Vokes has forced his way ahead of Hal Robson-Kanu in the pecking order up front for Wales and he will hope to cap a memorable season for Burnley, which yielded 10 Premier League goals, with a telling contribution in Serbia before the 27-year-old ties the knot later this month.

“In the group so far I suppose we were favourites coming out of the Euro’s in the summer and for us it was important to start well and we’ve picked up a few too many draws when we should have had wins,” he said.

“It’s the halfway stage of the group so it’s time to turn it around.

“Going into the group as favourites and being the top seed is a big achievement for Wales, but the other side of that is that you are expected to pick up results where we probably haven’t done so far.

“It’s still all to play for, there’s some big teams in the group and some big games coming up.”

And Vokes, who could lead the line for Wales in the absence of the suspended Gareth Bale, wants to help his country make more memories on the back of their run to the last four a year ago.

“The lads have got the buzz for it,” said Vokes is set to win his 50th cap in Belgrade.

“It was a great achievement and a great experience to a part of, so if we can emulate that and get back to another major tournament that would be great.

“It’s not do or die time quite yet but we need to go to Serbia and definitely not lose.

“We’ve been up in games and cruising and given away a couple of sloppy goals which has killed us so far, so we need to turn those draws into wins.

“We’re halfway through the group and it’s five huge games.”