Seamus Coleman upbeat as Ireland turn focus to Aviva decider

Seamus Coleman says the Ireland squad were glad the game in Bosnia-Herzegovina was not called off despite the huge difficulties of playing in thick fog, as Martin O’Neill’s side got the away goal they came for in a tough 1-1 draw.

The full-back did express concern with the way Ireland conceded an Edin Dzeko strike so quickly, but was overall “very happy” with the result.

“It was very difficult,” Coleman said. “In the second-half when we went out it just kept getting worse and worse. Where I was, in the right-back position, it was quite difficult to see the far side of the pitch. I’m just glad the game didn’t have to stop, because it was quite bad.

“It’s something you are not up against all the time. But we got the away goal and we are very happy with that.”

“We’d have taken the 1-1 draw definitely, the away goal. We are slightly, not overly, but slightly disappointed to concede so soon after scoring. But we have to be positive and we would have taken that away goal if you’d have given it to us before the game.

“They looked a bit lively, although they were going down the right they were crossing it over to my side, so I had to be aware of that and try to snuff out any danger.

“They are a threat, they have good players, so we have to prepare again, get the bodies right and look forward to Monday.”

Coleman was one of the few Irish players to see Robbie Brady’s 82nd-minute goal.

“Just about, yeah. It was a great goal from Robbie. He’s got that ability. He’s chopped inside the lad and he’s given the keeper the eyes. Robbie has that in the locker and hopefully we can see that again.”

Coleman praised his backline team-mates Ciaran Clark and Richard Keogh for the way they kept the Bosnian attackers at bay.

“You have to defend well, especially when you come away to places like this. It’s always going to be difficult and you know you have to defend well. The two centre-halves did well tonight and gave us a platform to go on and score the goal. It’s just a pity we conceded.”

Brady said he couldn’t see much of the pitch at all, and reflected on a “strange” night.

“You could only half see it when the goalie was kicking it when it caught in the floodlight and you had to sort If wait for it to drop.

“It was strange, I never played in conditions like that.

“But in terms of Monday night we’ll have to knuckle down and bring it to them.

“We know they have good players and it was no real surprise they tried to get those players on the ball and into the game but hopefully it will be a different story when they come over to Dublin and we get the win.

“I wasn’t really in the game at times tonight but I’m happy with the goal and to take something back home, it’s happy days and we’re buzzing for Monday night now.

“These are the best games I’ve been involved in and to qualify would be a dream for all of us and an opportunity that we can’t let side.”