Martin O’Neill claims play-off bans ‘unfair’

Martin O’Neill said the historic win over Germany sapped some of Ireland’s “intensity” for the 2-1 defeat to Poland last night — but criticised Robert Lewandowski and his side for their willingness to go down and stop the game.

The Irish manager also claimed it is “unfair” that suspensions are carried through to the play-offs, with John O’Shea and Jon Walters now set to miss Ireland’s first leg after their respective red card and booking.

O’Shea’s second booking for a foul on Lewandowski came at the end of a game in which Ireland looked much leggier than in the 1-0 win over Germany, although O’Neill lamented the fact that they could still have gone to Euro 2016 instead of Poland had Richard Keogh’s late header gone in.