Givens calls for improvements

Manager Don Givens has warned his Republic of Ireland Under-21 side they need to be more ruthless if they are to keep their European Championship dreams alive.

Ireland were denied their first victory of the qualifying campaign at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening when Giorgi Ivanishvili snatched a point for Georgia with a late equaliser.

That means the Republic go into tonight’s clash with Switzerland in Waterford having taken only two points from their first three games and in desperate need of a win if they are not to fall further off the pace.

Givens said: “It’s a vital game for us. Our results have been frustrating because we have been playing well, but not getting the results to match the performances.

“We have not been taking our chances in front of goal and that was evident again against Georgia last Friday night.

“We went 1-0 ahead and should have gone on to score another two or three.

“But when you are only 1-0 ahead, you always run the risk of letting the opposition back into the match and that is exactly what happened.

“We had a corner kick and from that they hit us on the break and equalised.

“Switzerland are a good team. I watched them when they were beaten by Estonia - they were far better than Estonia in that match, but ended up losing.

“It’s an important game for both teams and hopefully we can begin to take the opportunities in front of goal.”

Captain Owen Garvan also knows the time has come to start picking up points.

He said: “All the teams in the group have been taking points from each other, which is good for us because it means that no team has pulled away from the rest.

“But at the same time, we know that we have to start winning matches.”

Givens will be without the suspended Stephen Gleeson and injured duo James Berrett and Brendan Moloney, who has a knee problem.

Cork City defender Kevin Long has been drafted into the squad as Moloney’s replacement.

"I am absolutely delighted, and to be honest it was a bit of a shock to have got the call," Long said.

"It is the first time I have been called up for international duty, so it is a very proud moment for me."