Bright and breezy starts the Ireland solution for Parrott

The Boys in Green went down 2-0 in Greece on Sunday night. 

Troy Parrott of Republic of Ireland during the clash with Greece at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Slow starts are stifling Ireland’s quest to emerge from their slumber, admits Troy Parrott.

Greece took the initiative on Sunday at the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis once Evan Ferguson fluffed an early opposition, which might have warranted a penalty, running out deserved 2-0 winners to reclaim top spot in the Uefa Nations League table.

Ireland’s trend of responding only after falling behind recurred in Piraeus and yet, unlike Finland four days previous, there would be no goal or turnaround to engineer victory.

Defeat has been the enemy to this bunch of Ireland players for several years, predating Heimir Hallgrimsson’s arrival in July, and they have two final matches – at home to Finland on November 14 and three days later against England at Wembley – to lay foundations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

Parrott was the only change to the Ireland team which began in Helsinki, partnering Ferguson upfront for the first time in their senior international career.

He’s been banging in goals for AZ Alkmaar but the chances were scarce against a Greek team channelling the emotion of last week losing teammate George Baldock in the right direction by collecting full points from this window.

“We only started playing forward, getting balls in the box, until they scored so we’ve to work on doing that earlier,” noted 22-year-old Parrott.

“Greece are a good team and we knew it was going to be a tough game. They beat England and through circumstances that happened during the week it’s given them that extra bit of motivation.

“Caoimh had to make plenty of saves in the first half but that’s what he’s there for.

“We defended well but I just think there was a little bit too much in terms of them coming at us and not really doing much to go back.

“We put pressure on them and created chances but It’s about us trying to create chances earlier.

“It was frustrating to concede a second at the end but Caoimh doesn’t make many mistakes.” 

 One positive from the night was the impact made by Jack Taylor on his debut. He was brought on at the hour mark to function between midfield and attack; filling an area that hosts were dominating.

Twice the Ipswich Town midfielder came close to foraging for an equaliser – his header tipped over and then seeing a close-range volley from Robbie Brady’s corner blocked.

“We didn't play like how we wanted to play, not intense enough, and the substitutions changed it,” said the Londoner.

“I thought we had them pinned back for the last half and, in the end, I felt we deserved a draw.” 

On his chances, Taylor added: “I’m pretty versatile – being comfortable anywhere in the middle – and for the last couple of years I've focussed on arriving into the box late to score more goals as a central midfielder.

“The header tipped over was unlucky but I didn’t see much of the ball when the defender came in.

“The chance afterwards I think I should do better, which was gutting because it could have earned us a point.”