‘We still have a long way to go’

CAUGHT between the Wailing Wall and the Great Wall, Brian Kerr yesterday turned his face towards tonight’s friendly against China at Lansdowne Road — but the ghost of what might have been in Tel Aviv was still hovering at his shoulder.

Whether Israel's late equaliser comes back to haunt Kerr remains to be seen, but for now the Republic of Ireland manager is happy that his team has not shipped any lasting psychological damage to go along with the disappointment of Saturday night.

"There are lessons to be learned but I don't think there'll be any psychological damage," he said yesterday after squad training. "We know we have a good team, a good defensive record and that we're capable of scoring goals and keeping possession. We also know we need to improve in the final third of the pitch.