We just didn’t play in the second half, says Andrews

KEITH ANDREWS admitted he was disappointed by the Republic of Ireland’s second-half performance against Brazil last night.

Giovanni Trapattoni’s men went down 2-0 to the Samba Boys at London’s Emirates Stadium in last night’s friendly clash, with the Blackburn Rovers midfielder inadvertently putting Dunga’s men a goal to the good just before half-time, when he turned a Robinho cross past a helpless Shay Given.

Robinho’s second secured victory for Brazil and Andrews, while claiming Ireland were the better side in the first half, conceded the display after the interval was below par.

Andrews, who was named Ireland’s man of match despite his own goal, said: “It was definitely a game of two halves this evening.

“The first half I thought we played fantastic stuff, really stifled them and stopped them playing.

“We were probably the better team in the first half and deserved to be one up rather than one down.

“Second half – whether it was a case of them upping their game or us not playing as well as we can, maybe being a little bit casual at times, myself included – it was a poor second half from us.’’

Brazil’s opener wasn’t without controversy however as Robinho appeared to be offside in the build-up.

“I was actually the closest to Robinho when he was making his run in behind and as soon as he went behind me I just let him go because I thought the flag was going to go up,’’ Andrews told RTÉ.

“It didn’t, it was just one of those things.

“Hopefully, eventually, we’ll get the rub of the green with those type of things.’’