Fulham 1 Stoke City 0

Aiden McGeady’s difficulty could turn out to be Anthony Pilkington’s opportunity, as the winger’s withdrawal from the Irish squad is sure to prompt some deep thinking by Giovanni Trapattoni ahead of next Friday’s World Cup clash with Sweden.

Stoke City 3 Southhampton 3

By Brendan O'Brien

Hungary 0 Republic of Ireland 0

STEVE KEAN praised the Blackburn fans for getting behind their team at Ewood Park yesterday and felt they should have been rewarded with at least a point against Stoke.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI believes that pressure from Russia has resulted in Ireland having to play their next European Championship qualifier in Andorra’s tiny Communal d’Andorra Stadium.

AIDEN MCGEADY and Kevin Kilbane are among the players who won’t be featuring in the Republic of Ireland’s Carling Nations Cup opener against Wales at the Aviva Stadium next Tuesday after Giovanni Trapattoni trimmed his squad from 29 to 22 yesterday.

JONATHAN WALTERS’ chances of making his senior debut for Ireland against Norway next week appear to have improved with the news that captain Robbie Keane has been forced to withdraw from the final 25-man squad for the friendly game at the Aviva Stadium.

Stephen Hunt has been drafted into the Republic of Ireland squad for the first time this season for the friendly against Norway in Dublin on November 17.

SHELBOURNE winger Wesley Hoolahan and Waterford goalkeeper Dan Connor will be given the opportunity to raise the profile of the eircom League when Ireland play Switzerland tonight in the final match of their European U-21 qualifying tournament.

DON GIVENS yesterday named four uncapped players and three Irish-based players in Ireland's U21 squad of 18 for a challenge game in Poland on Tuesday, August 19.