Survival test for Ireland

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER GROUP C:

The scoreline makes it sound rather more exciting than it was. In front of a third-full Millennium Stadium, on a suitably grey day, and with nothing meaningful at stake for two countries already left well behind in the quest for Euro 2008, it took a typically energetic introduction from the bench on the part of Stephen Hunt — replacing Liam Miller; yep, that’s how long ago it was — to raise the spirits of the small band of travelling Irish supporters.

You suspect it will be a wee bit different tonight when Noel King takes the reins as Ireland’s latest stand-in gaffer, proudly plugging the gap between Trapattoni and his as yet unidentified successor.