Ireland U21s trail at the break

Switzerland U21 1 Rep of Ireland U21 0

The Republic of Ireland’s long unbeaten run was in serious danger of finally coming to an end after they went behind to an early goal in their European Championship qualifying clash against Switzerland.

Keeper Wayne Henderson was caught in no man's land, helping to gift Switzerland the lead on four minutes.

The 20-year-old inexplicably came off his line to meet a cross from deep from Young Boys left-back Alain Rochat, giving Stefan Lichtsteiner of Grasshoppers a simple header into an empty net.

With confidence rocked, the Republic could have been 2-0 down inside seven minutes when Ziegler and David Degen set up Davide Calla, who found himself with room to spare inside the 18-yard box, but his angled right-foot shot flashed past the right-hand post.

Switzerland again took advantage of holes down the right wing five minutes later, with Calla and Xavier Margairaz combining for the latter to float in a cross to the far post which just eluded the leaping Rochat.

Although Ireland managed to weather the early storm, Switzerland again threatened in the 26th minute when Degan and Ziegler set up Baykal Kulaksizoglu for an edge-of-the-area drive which Henderson did well to hold low to his right.

In the 38th minute, Ireland finally conjured their first chance, albeit from distance, as Sunderland’s Stephen Elliott – needing a goal to become the Under-21s’ all-time leading scorer – unleashed a thunderous 25-yard drive which Diego Benaglio just tipped over.