Martin O’Neill: We’re in a dogfight, and maybe that’s no bad thing

O’Neill insists he is not overly concerned about the fact that his team have now dropped four points in successive home games.

Despite having made exceedingly heavy weather of salvaging a point against Austria, Ireland remain on course for the World Cup finals in Russia, by Liam Mackey .

But this latest proof that, with four games remaining, qualification will be anything but plain-sailing is certainly not lost on Martin O’Neill. Indeed, he has even hinted that having to do it the hard way may better suit the Irish football temperament.