Early Dunne strike gives Ireland advantage at the break

Republic of Ireland 1 Bulgaria 0

Richard Dunne got the Republic of Ireland off to a dream start in their World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria.

The Manchester City defender headed his side in front with only 40 seconds gone after John O’Shea had flicked on Stephen Hunt’s free-kick.

However, Shay Given had to make good saves from Stiliyan Petrov and Blagoy Georgiev as the visitors threatened to hit back.

Hunt was in the thick of the action within seconds, drawing a foul from Iliyan Stoyanov.

And the Reading midfielder was to have an even bigger impact from the free-kick when his cross was flicked on by John O’Shea for central defensive partner Richard Dunne to dive in and head his side in front with just 40 seconds gone.

However, Ireland received an early warning that their dream start was only that when Aston Villa midfielder Stiliyan Petrov made his first contribution.

The Bulgaria skipper thumped a fourth-minute shot from 25 yards towards the top corner of Shay Given’s net but Given pulled off a fine save to preserve the Republic’s lead.

Stoilov’s side were starting to establish a momentum as Ireland found themselves being pushed back, and they were relieved when lone striker Dimtar Rangelov slid a left-foot effort high and wide from a tight angle.

Midfielder Keith Andrews had his heart in his mouth with 16 minutes gone when Zhivko Milanov went to ground under his challenge inside the box, but Croatian referee Ivan Bebek booked the full-back for diving as he was carried off on a stretcher.

Ireland threatened again four minutes later when, after McGeady’s left-wing cross had been cleared, Glenn Whelan drilled in a long-range effort which keeper Dimitar Ivankov did well to get his body behind.

The game settled into something of a lull with neither side making any real progress in a battle that was being fought out largely in the middle of the field.

Bulgaria were seeing plenty of the ball but, with Whelan and Andrews working hard in front of a well-organised back four, they lacked penetration.

However, they perhaps should have been on level terms with 27 minutes gone after Stanislav Manolev slipped past left-back Kevin Kilbane and squared the ball for the unmarked Blagoy Georgiev 15 yards out.

Georgiev, one of the dangermen identified by Republic boss Giovanni Trapattoni in the run-up to the game, connected reasonably well with his first-time shot but it was too close to Given, who made a comfortable save – by his standards - low to his left.

Whelan smashed an ambitious 32nd-minute volley well wide after Hunt had climbed well to head on O’Shea’s long ball but there was little to choose between the sides as half-time approached.

Kilbane got away with misjudging a high ball when Rangelov fired over from Stanislav Angelov’s cut-back as the Bulgarians, who had drawn their three previous qualifiers, failed to make the most of their chances.

The visitors were confident in possession and whenever they did surrender the ball it was returned cheaply, with Trapattoni’s men struggling to find green shirts.

Kilbane very nearly did just that to play Doyle in behind the visitors’ rearguard three minutes before the break but his pass was slightly overhit and Ivankov came from his line swiftly to claim it.