Seamus Coleman: Players to blame for Irish negativity

Seamus Coleman has firmly placed the blame for Ireland’s failings in Serbia on the players rather than boss Martin O’Neill.

Although Jeff Hendrick fired Ireland into an early lead in Belgrade, that was the prompt for them to retreat as a unit, thereby allowing Serbia enough time and space to dictate proceedings.

That the Irish completed a paltry 94 passes over the entire game said much for the degree of panic that engulfed the team.