Dunne disappointed at return to long-ball game

RICHARD DUNNE admitted last night’s thrilling scoreline disguised an unacceptable performance from Ireland.

The Aston Villa star was candid enough to admit that Giovanni Trapattoni’s side should have produced a far better display against the Russians.

“Probably over the whole lot of the game we didn’t deserve a point. We could have been four or five down before we decided to start playing,” said the Dubliner.

“We couldn’t do anything in the first half and even in the second half we couldn’t get going.

“They passed the ball really well and we took to knocking it long and winning second balls. We created chances but probably didn’t deserve the draw overall.”

Dunne was particularly disappointed that the Boys in Green seemed to return to a 1980s style of drilling the ball forward at every opportunity rather than being brave enough to pass the ball.

The former Everton and Manchester City stalwart believes the squad has shown in the past that they can play a more expansive style than they produced last night.

“I don’t know why we weren’t on our game. We seemed to have one game plan and that was go long. When that didn’t work we were left wide open,” he said.

“They have very skilful players and when they broke, they broke quickly. It was difficult for us to defend against.

“For whatever reason in the first half we never got going. We had a little chance before they scored but after that it wasn’t until we got the penalty that we started to give it a go.

“It wasn’t good enough. We proved when we played France that we can pass the ball and it’s about being brave enough. We weren’t brave enough tonight.

“We are allowed pass the ball but for whatever reason we don’t feel comfortable doing it. We’ve got to have confidence and have to be braver when we have the ball.

“Going long is probably the easy way out for players. We’ve got to get our foot on the ball and demand it to try and create chances.

“If we keep going long the defence is going to get tired running back all the time and being left wide open. We’ve got to get hold of the ball and try control the game.”

With Ireland now heading to Zilina to face Slovakia – who lost to Armenia last night – on Tuesday, Group B is still wide open and Dunne feels they can still get back on track.

“We knew that regardless of Russia’s last result that they’re a very good side. We knew how difficult our game was going to be,” he said.

“The result in Armenia opens the group wide open again and the game on Tuesday becomes vital for us.”