Serbia and Albania are both facing the possibility of being sanctioned by UEFA after their Euro 2016 qualifier was abandoned last night in bizarre circumstances.

Martin O’Neill was left to reflect upon what might have been after seeing the Republic of Ireland slip to the first defeat of his reign.

A night that was instructive rather than enthralling, as Ireland simply ran out of energy, and they didn’t quite offer the exhibition the new regime demanded.

Republic of Ireland 1 Serbia 2

Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill has backed striker Shane Long to develop a ruthless streak after seeing the chance of a hat-trick go begging.

Republic of Ireland 1 Serbia 2

Wales 0 Serbia 3

Scotland 0 Serbia 0

Serbia 0 Republic of Ireland 0

Shamrock Rovers 1 FK Partizan 1

Arsenal 3 Partizan Belgrade 1

UEFA have confirmed they have opened “a full and thorough” investigation into the incidents which caused the abandonment of last night’s Euro 2012 qualifier between Italy and Serbia in Genoa.

UEFA are waiting for their match delegate’s report before acting following the riots which forced the abandonment of Italy’s game against Serbia after only six minutes.

Partizan Belgrade 1 Arsenal 3

Australia 2 Serbia 1

RADOMIR ANTIC dedicated his side’s stunning World Cup victory over Germany yesterday to the Serbian people as Group D was blown wide open.

Radomir Antic dedicated his side’s stunning World Cup victory over Germany to the Serbian people as Group D was blown wide open.

Germany 0 Serbia 1

Vojvodina Novi Sad goalkeeper Zeljko Brkic was the unlucky man to miss out as Serbia coach Radomir Antic today trimmed his 24-man party down to the final 23 names who will make the trip to South Africa.

Wigan goalkeeper Mike Pollitt has signed a new contract to keep him at the club for another season.

Manchester City 3 Wigan 0

Emmanuel Adebayor returned to the Manchester City side against Wigan after a four-match suspension.

Wigan 0 Notts County 2

Wigan 0 Everton 1

Wigan could be without captain Mario Melchiot for the visit of Everton tomorrow in the Barclays Premier League.

NIKOLA KALINIC shrugged off his Carling Cup disappointment by scoring a Lancashire derby winner to ease Blackburn’s relegation worries.

Blackburn 2 Wigan 1

Wigan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic is poised for his Premier League debut at Blackburn tomorrow after Chris Kirkland was ruled out for a fortnight with an injured collarbone.

Notts County 2 Wigan 2

Gary Caldwell has joined Wigan from Celtic on a four-and-a-half-year deal for an undisclosed fee, the Premier League club have confirmed.

Wigan have signed Ivory Coast international Steven Gohouri until the end of the season.

Midfielder Mohamed Diame is Wigan’s only absentee for the visit of Aston Villa in the Premier League tomorrow.

Wigan have completed the loan signing of Serbia international Vladimir Stojkovic after the goalkeeper received his work permit.

Sporting Lisbon goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic has joined Wigan on loan until the end of the season, according to the Portuguese club.

Republic of Ireland 1 Serbia 1

DUTCH coach Marco van Basten has added midfielder Phillip Cocu to his squad for the Group 1 qualifier against Finland in Helsinki tomorrow night.