Dunne header keeps Ireland level at half time

Bulgaria 1 Republic of Ireland 1

Richard Dunne kept the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup qualifying charge on track as Bulgaria were made to fight for their lives.

The Manchester City defender headed the visitors into a 24th-minute lead at the Vasil Levski Stadium to get them off to the perfect start.

However, Dimitar Telkiyski levelled within five minutes as the Bulgarians refused to give up on their own hopes of reaching the finals in South Africa.

John O'Shea, as expected, lined up at right-back to allow St Ledger to partner Richard Dunne in central defence, while Folan - whose introduction against the Italians in Bari led to skipper Robbie Keane's late equaliser - once again teamed up with the Tottenham man.

Folan made an early impression when he chased down a fourth-minute Keane through-ball, earning himself a talking to from Danish referee Claus Bo Larsen for nudging the covering Zhivko Milanov into goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov.

The visitors who created the game’s first chance two minutes later, Stephen Hunt rising at the far post to meet a Duff cross with a downward header which did not trouble Ivankov too much.

But the keeper had to get his body behind Folan’s firm drive seconds later with the Republic enjoying an encouraging start.

Keane slashed wide after Dunne had headed down Duff’s 11th-minute corner, but Folan hit the target, albeit with a toe-poke after he appeared to be impeded by Igor Tomasic as he tried to reach Duff’s inviting cross four minutes later.

However, the visitors were given a warning with 19 minutes gone when Milanov crossed from the right for Berbatov to loop a header just over.

But Ireland took the lead four minutes later when, after Stephen Hunt had been tripped by Stanislav Angelov wide on the left, the winger curled the resulting free-kick into the middle for Dunne to head home unopposed.

The Bulgarians could have been back in the game only a minute later when Kishishev picked out Martin Petrov’s run down the left.

But, although the Manchester City midfielder found himself free in the box, he was forced to shoot from a tight angle and lifted the ball over both Given and the crossbar.

The respite was short-lived for the Irish, however, as the hosts dragged themselves back into the game with 29 minutes gone.

This time they attacked down the right with midfielder Dimitar Telkiyski and he side-footed past the advancing Given to level and send a packed house at the Vasil Levski Stadium into raptures.

Mr Bo Larsen was kept busy by a lively encounter but he was not tolerating any play-acting, and Martin Petrov was ordered to get to his feet after collapsing theatrically under O’Shea’s tackle.

Berbatov repeatedly found himself cast in the role of playmaker, turning up on the left to send in a series of crosses as Bulgaria started to build up a head of steam.

They went close again eight minutes before the break when Bojinov sent in a snap shot from inside the box and Dunne headed clear in front of his own goal as Given looked on anxiously.

For the first time, Ireland were rocking, and Dunne had to intervene once again with four minutes of the half remaining with Bojinov about to pull the trigger from Angelov’s cross.

Given had to make a solid save from Kishishev’s long-range drive in injury-time but the visitors managed to ride out the storm.