Martin O’Neill won’t be leaving anything to fate

After yesterday’s draw in Nyon had pitted Ireland against Bosnia and Herzegovina in November’s European Championship play-off, Martin O’Neill was gathered around a table with a small group of Irish journalists in UEFA’s ‘House Of Football’, when a staffer came in and began handing out sheets of paper containing confirmation of the dates of next month’s games.

A quick glance revealed that the date of the first leg would be, for those so inclined, regarded as inauspicious. So, with tongue firmly in cheek, I had to ask the question: “Martin, are you superstitious? Because I see the away match is on Friday 13th.”

His reaction was surprising. Just outside the window, the sun might have been illuminating the calm waters of Lake Geneva, but it’s hardly much of an exaggeration to suggest that, as the manager looked down at the fixture list in front of him, he almost gave a little shudder. “Yeah, yeah… Friday and Monday…I’ll refrain from that.”