Staunton demands 'clinical' approach

Steve Staunton has urged his players to be “clinical” when Ireland faces San Marino on Wednesday.

Ireland hammered the minnows 5-0 when the teams last met in a Euro 2008 qualifier at Lansdowne Road in November to get their campaign up and running following a poor start.

The return at the compact Serravalle Stadium should not prove too problematic for Ireland, but nothing can be taken for granted despite San Marino’s wretched footballing record.

Nothing less than victory, however, will suffice if Ireland are to have any hope of reaching next summer’s finals.

John O’Shea concedes Staunton has already made his point known to his squad, stating: “We’ve been told to make sure we’re clinical.

“We know the odds and everything else are stacked in our favour. But we know they’re probably going to play the same as they did at Lansdowne Road and pack the defence and midfield and try and keep us out for as long as they can.

“We’ve just got to keep switching and moving the ball because we know with the quality we have we can undo them.

“We need to score early to take the pressure off ourselves. The longer the game goes on, the more confidence they will gain.

“Something to hold onto is the last thing you want with a team like that. So whether it goes off a knee or a backside, just as long as we get that early goal, then it will prove vital.”

The pressure is on the Republic because they know there can be no more mistakes after taking a point from their opening three games.

With a much-anticipated double-header at Croke Park looming at the end of next month when Wales and Slovakia are the visitors, O’Shea added: “Without a doubt we have to take nine points from these next three games.

“If we do that then it will put us in a great position. We have to be so focused on giving 100%. If we do that it will give us a great chance for us to open up the group.”

At least O’Shea will revert to his customary outfield role after a 10-minute workout as goalkeeper in Manchester United’s 4-0 romp at Spurs yesterday.

O’Shea was United’s last substitute sent on by Alex Ferguson, only for Edwin van der Sar to break his nose within minutes.

That led to O’Shea answering captain Gary Neville’s call to arms and taking over between the posts, ultimately denying Republic and Spurs captain Robbie Keane in a one-on-one situation.

“It was a strange experience at the time, but it’s one I can look back on and have a good laugh at,” remarked O’Shea.

“I’m glad to keep a clean sheet, although those 10 minutes were nerve-wracking because any time they ventured into our half, the crowd were shouting ’shoot’.

“Then there was the incident with Robbie. I think he thought I was going to run back to my line because I was on the edge of my box at the time, but I stayed. He tried to nutmeg me, but luckily I got a touch and managed to clear it away.

“He’s upset with me because he thought I’d let him go past me to get his confidence up for the game with San Marino!

“But I would have taken a lot of stick if I’d done that. Instead he has taken some from us today, although it’s not been too bad, especially as the game was done and dusted.

“At least our fans enjoyed it because they were chanting ’Ireland, Ireland’s number one’, so it was a great bit of banter.”

O’Shea concedes he would have no hesitation in taking up the gloves again, adding: “It was funny. It's not as if I even muck around in training by going in goal, although I have played a lot of Gaelic football, so that came to my mind.

“I’d do it again, without a doubt. It’s a case of ’if needs be’.”

Newcastle right-back Stephen Carr and Leeds midfielder Jonathan Douglas today withdrew from the squad with thigh and hamstring injuries, resulting in a call up for Luton’s Kevin Foley.