'We must have our chests forward': Hallgrimsson urges Ireland to bury familiar failings

BURY OLD HABITS: Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson applauds the fans after the game.

Ireland must curb their habit of only playing when there’s nothing to lose.

That was the verdict of manager Heimir Hallgrimsson after Greece inflicted their straight 2-0 defeat on the Irish, meaning the next match at home to Finland on November 14 will decide which nation is automatically relegated to League C of the Nations League.

Tasos Bakasetas broke the deadlock in front of 30, 253 fans in Piraeus straight after the interval before substitute Petros Mantalos capitalised on a blunder by goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher to add a second in stoppage time.

Returning to defeat after Thursday’s respite win in Finland leaves Ireland with a record of nine losses in their last 10 competitive matches, bar lowly Gibraltar.

“When we have nothing to lose, we start to play like we should,” decried Hallgrimsson afterwards.

"It seemed like the pressure was gone once we conceded. We had more belief in what we were doing. It was the same against Finland.

"Our passing, playing forward, pressing, all of it had more belief.

"Greece were better than us by far in the first half but we didn't concede a goal.

“We knew the first half would be tough but the first goal came through the heart of the team. We cannot allow that and in every training session and at every meeting we are trying to fix things.

"We moved the ball much better in the second half and had a chance to get a point - which would have been a good result. Mistakes, like the one for the second goals, happen in football.

“There are some positives to take away from this game but you never want to lose 2-0.” 

Ireland conclude this series against the basement side Finland and then travel to Wembley against an England team likely requiring victory to pip Greece in order to win the group and guarantee promotion back to League A.

“They have too little belief going into these games,” he added.

"We must have our chests forward. There is belief in this team for sure and I believe in them.”