Jury remains out as Stephen Kenny plays yet another weakened hand

In all, the Ireland boss has 19 players unavailable to him for this Nations League Group B4 relegation decider as a result of Covid, injuries, suspensions, and personal reasons

SILVER LINING: Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny speaks to his players during a squad session at FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown yesterday. The exposure earned by so many players should stand to the manager come the really serious work next March, but there remains business to be done now. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Results have no agenda or permeable borders. They are what they are. String a run together, whether good or bad, and it usually trumps less tangible arguments over playing style, team selection or luck. Stephen Kenny knows all this but believes any verdict on his tenure as Republic of Ireland manager right now would be tainted by questionable evidence.

Still without a win through seven games in charge, he hasn't celebrated a goal since Shane Duffy's injury-time header against today's opponents in Sofia two months ago. The last three fixtures have delivered nothing but blanks and losses, and a red card, and yet this is clearly a picture that requires a much wider frame.