Martin O’Neill facing big calls in battle for brave hearts and cool heads

The really brave call by Martin O’Neill would be to put Robbie Brady in at left-back. That's not to be critical of Stephen Ward; it’s just that, in the context of tonight’s all or nothing game, our chances of success would be better served by playing Brady in that position, writes Liam Brady.

Friday’s game against Moldova was a positive platform on a number of levels for tonight against Wales: A really good performance in the first half, a brace for Daryl Murphy for whom goals for Ireland had been in short supply, and a clean bill of health in terms of injuries and suspensions.

But no more than a platform. Moldova are ranked 156th in the world, a side we should be beating with a bit to spare. Tonight in Cardiff is a whole other ball game, a match with World Cup destiny at stake and — especially since Gareth Bale is out of the picture — very little to choose between the two teams. I see it being a very tight, tense, hard-fought game, one which could ultimately come down to which side wants it the most.