Jonathan Walters has been handed the task of partnering skipper Robbie Keane in attack as the Republic of Ireland aim launch their Euro 2012 play-off campaign with victory in Estonia tonight.

MARTIN SKRTEL was unmoved. After Slovakia’s visit to Dublin in September, the defender declared Ireland “predictable”. And Estonian midfielder Martin Vunk echoed those sentiments yesterday. Having studied Ireland’s matches, he revealed the main threat they deciphered was wingers crossing.

NORTHERN IRELAND’S slim hopes of a Euro 2012 play-off – and possibly Nigel Worthington’s prospects of a new contract – were finally extinguished with a second defeat at the hands of lowly Estonia.

Northern Ireland’s hopes of reaching Euro 2012 were reduced to tatters in Tallinn as a series of individual mistakes left them on the wrong end of a humbling defeat by Estonia.