O'Neill 'pleasantly surprised' by attitude of Ireland players

Martin O'Neill was a happy man after seeing Aiden McGeady turn up for his Republic of Ireland welcome party.

The 61-year-old knows the Spartak Moscow winger well from their time together at Celtic and was delighted with his contribution as he launched his reign as manager with a 3-0 victory over Latvia.

McGeady marked his 62nd senior appearance for his country with just his third goal and while the Ulsterman believes he has more to offer, he was satisfied with his opening night performance.

O'Neill said: "Was it his third? I said to him: 'You haven't scored in 27 matches' or something like that, and he actually said it was 47, a typical McGeady comment.

"He's pleased with the goal, he's pleased with his input to the match tonight.

"He has things to do, of course - sometimes when we have lost the ball, Aiden decides that he will walk back instead of maybe getting into a bit of a trot, unlike [James] McClean at the other end.

"But we will forgive him this evening, anyway. There will be other days when I will be harder with him."

McGeady was one of the stand-out performers on a night when the caution of the Giovanni Trapattoni era was forgotten as the Republic tore into the Latvians from the off.

O'Neill was quick to acknowledge that his team will face tougher tests - for a start, in Poland on Tuesday evening - but as a start, it was just the kind for which he was looking.

He said: "The players' enthusiasm for the game beforehand, their enthusiasm during that there was very marked, and that's great.

"But then again having said this, let's be fair about it, this set of players, like most sets of players, wants to play for their country.

"These lads are no exception so from that viewpoint, it was nice to win.

"I can't tell, because I don't know what happened before, obviously, but I know I have been pleasantly surprised by their attitude.

"One or two of the lads remarked that tonight was play-off night and we haven't made it. We maybe have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but it's just the start."

Skipper Robbie Keane got Ireland off to the perfect start when he prodded home his 62nd goal for his country with 22 minutes gone, and McGeady's 68th-minute strike from distance was just reward for their dominance.

Substitute Shane Long wrapped things up 11 minutes from time to leave Marian Pahars looking on philosophically at the relative riches at the disposal of O'Neill and assistant Roy Keane.

He said: "It was a good start for them. It's a right choice, a really good choice for your country. He's a top, top manager together with Keane, you have got everything to achieve a lot.

"I see the level of other teams and I see what your players can do. Of course they must be happy, it's a good start."