I UNDERSTAND that literally tens of letters have flooded into the Irish Examiner, expressing ineffable joy at the news that the paper’s soccer correspondent is alive and well and back on terra firma after Monday evening’s heart-stopping mid-air drama which one newspaper dubbed ‘Stan’s jet terror’.

STEVE STAUNTON’S unwanted run of five matches without a victory finally came to an end with an expected triumph over a side with a reputation of being the worst in Europe.

Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given will exorcise his frustrations on Wednesday after an agonising eight weeks on the sidelines.

GROUP ONE: The Netherlands stayed on course for World Cup qualification with a 2-0 defeat of Armenia.