The one that got away

IN the immediate and deeply gloomy aftermath of the crushing setback of Friday’s loss to Russia, Ireland would happily have settled for a point in this one.

But it’s a measure of the improvement in their overall performance in Zilina last night that, by the end of this game, a draw probably felt more like a defeat for an Irish team which had not only cheaply surrendered a lead but then saw Robbie Keane both fluff a penalty and miss another great chance late on to convert a solid and admirable point on the road into the three which would have fully redeemed the points lost at home to the Russians.

With Dick Advocaat’s side having opened up a two-point lead following their win in Macedonia, the value of this Irish away point will not be fully known until much later in the campaign. But, for now, it was enough to restore battered pride and steady the ship before the friendly against Norway next month gives Giovanni Trapattoni a chance to reflect, renew and assess all his options.