The dream start of a fourth-minute Shane Duffy goal gave way to something more like a prolonged nightmare for Martin O’Neill’s team in Tbilisi on Saturday, as an abject performance and a third successive draw in qualifying put a significant dent in Ireland’s World Cup ambitions ahead of the crunch meeting with Serbia tomorrow night.

Wales 1 Georgia 1: Chris Coleman said Wales were punished for not “taking care of business” as they were held at home by Georgia.

BATE Borisov 1 Dundalk 0: Substitute Mikhail Gordeichuk’s 70th minute strike for BATE Borisov in the Borisov Arena last night finally broke Dundalk’s resistance to leave the League of Ireland champions with it all to do if they are to realise their Champions League dream.