Duff: Italian job is justified by results

THERE was definitely a hint of an Italian job in the manner in which Ireland went about securing a point in Sofia.

Not so much the big picture stuff but more in the way that the players paid attention to some of the manager’s beloved “leetle details” – like staying down a tad longer than might have been strictly necessary after a foul in order to run down the clock. There was even a moment when, after Glenn Whelan had been clattered and seemed intent on quickly getting back to his feet, Damien Duff was seen to signal to the Stoke City man that it might be better if his recovery wasn’t quite so hasty.

And Duff himself certainly didn’t demur after the game when it was suggested to him that the Italian manager has perhaps introduced a hint of cynicism – if that’s not too strong a word.

“Definitely, yeah,” said the Newcastle man. “When he first came in I said that he’s like Mourinho with those little things. People can knock it and say it is ugly but it’s what gets results and gets points. It might not be pretty but that’s what it is all about.

“There’s a mental toughness and there’s also certain organisation which is crucial at international level. And maybe we lacked that in previous campaigns. You just have to look at his CV to see what he brought to the team. In years gone by we might have conceded late on. But he has really tightened it up. People can call him defensive or what have you but he has done the business for us.”

On a personal level, the Newcastle man was pleased with his night’s work.

“It’s good to be back on the competitive scene really. It’s been a disappointing year from that point of view. I have missed an awful lot of those games and I think even last year the gaffer was pissed off with me when I was injured again. So it’s just good to be back in the team and fit. Good to be out there.”

For Kevin Kilbane, the night was tainted by the lapse in concentration which allowed Dimitar Telkiyski in to score Bulgaria’s equaliser.

“I was disappointed in myself with the goal,” he said. “I take full responsibility for it, you can’t legislate for those sort of mistakes at that level. I called to Sean St Ledger and then I just allowed it to come through me. I can’t really say what happened, it was just a silly mistake and at this level you get punished. It was a good finish by the lad but really disappointing from my personal point of view.”

Shay Given admitted that, despite Giovanni Trapattoni urging the team not to defend too deeply, it was an almost inevitable consequence of Ireland taking the lead in the game.

“When you go a goal up you always sort of defend that and maybe we sat a bit deep alright,” said the Donegal man. “I mean for the first 30 minutes we played some great stuff but he just said don’t drop too deep, be careful not to drop too deep – but sometimes when you’re away from home and you know the draw’s a good result, you are inclined to drop off a bit. But to be fair all the lads defended really well and we deserved the result.”

Had the ‘keeper ever seen Richard Dunne play a better 90 minutes?

“I’ve been playing behind him since January at Manchester City and I know that Richard’s come in for a bit of stick early in the season but since I’ve been at the club he’s been fantastic and in Sofia he was a real rock, Paul McGrath-like to be honest. He was unbelievable, I mean it was a fantastic header he scored for our goal, in our box he headed everything away and in one on ones he was different class. He deserved man of the match.”