Irish need ruthless streak against minnows

THE GOOD news for Steve Staunton is that Ireland’s next game is against San Marino. The bad news for Steve Staunton is that Ireland’s next game is against San Marino.

Short of the kind of unthinkable shocker that would make Nicosia seem like nothing more than a fairly bad night at the office, Ireland should stroll through Wednesday’s game against the group whipping boys.

But this is definitely more of a win-lose than a win-win situation: anything less than a command performance, and the manager is likely to find himself swiftly back in the firing line, with the snipers branding Anthony Stokes’ name on the bullets.