Kerr will lift players

Republic of Ireland manager Brian Kerr insists there will be no mental hangover in the Faroe Islands following another damaging blow to morale from Israel.

Kerr was left to agonise over another two points lost to the Israelis in their World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road on Saturday after watching his side throw away a two-goal lead just over two months after conceding an injury-time equaliser in Tel Aviv.

Ahead of the Group Four clash on Wednesday, there is also the prospect he could lose two more key players in striker Robbie Keane and centre-back Andy O’Brien as injury and insult combined on this occasion during a tempestuous 2-2 draw.

With the squad due to fly out to Torshavn later today, Keane is a serious doubt with a shoulder injury sustained in the third minute, and which ultimately forced him off in the 25th after he had netted Ireland’s second following Ian Harte’s free-kick opener.

The Football Association of Ireland, meanwhile, had their appeal against the red card O’Brien received in the 83rd minute rejected by FIFA and he is now subsequently suspended against the Faroes.

Television replays showed Greek referee Kyros Vassaras being conned by Israel goalkeeper Dudu Awat, who feigned being hit in the face by O’Brien when no contact was made, however, FIFA do not recognise video evidence.

But the incidents on Saturday made for a sombre mood in the Ireland camp in the match’s immediate aftermath, leaving Kerr and his staff to yesterday pick up the pieces and attempt to lift spirits.

Kerr remains confident they will get back on track as he said: “We have to qualify the hard way now. It’s a much harder task.

“But with four games to go – two at home and two away – we can still get 12 points and the reality is we are still in with a shout in the group.

“We still have a good team and there are still a lot of positive things about the team, but we need to go on.

“We are unbeaten in the group, which is still very open, and we are still waiting on somebody to critically win a match between the top four teams.

“Nobody’s done that yet. It’s a rather unusual situation there hasn’t been a clear-cut result.

“But it was not for the want of trying against Israel, and I won’t fault the players in their effort, who although disappointed, are not deflated.

“The role of myself and the staff now is to get them up again, and we will do that.”

The Faroes, though, showed against Switzerland in Toftir on Saturday they will not make it easy for Ireland as they were in with a chance of gaining a remarkable point when they hauled themselves level in the 70th minute.

But two Alexander Frei goals secured a 3-1 success for the Swiss, and with it top spot in the group, although they can be deposed by Ireland if Kerr’s side prevail.

Kerr, though, is not about to have the wool pulled over his eyes in a land where sheep outnumber people, adding: “I watched about half an hour of their game on Saturday.

“The pitch was tight and they play a direct, aggressive, straightforward game, and as you would expect, they try to make the best of what they have.

“They don’t have a group of technically proficient players, but they are well organised and they have a very experienced coach in Henrik Larsen.

“They made it awkward for Switzerland, and they will make it awkward for us.”