Bright starts the main area for Ireland to address for Finland rematch says Sammie Szmodics

FAST START: Sammie Szmodics speaks to the media during a Republic of Ireland press conference. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Sammie Szmodics admits Ireland must begin games faster rather than setbacks triggering a revival.

The Ipswich Town attacker has been a starter since making his debut in March and is due to earn his ninth cap in Thursday’s penultimate Uefa Nations League B contest against Finland at Lansdowne Road (7.45pm).

They will conclude against England at Wembley on Sunday (5pm) but regardless of the outcome, Ireland are all but certain to be third seeds in the draw for the World Cup qualifiers on December 13.

Last month’s window was a mixed bag – beating Finland 2-1 away before losing 2-0 at familiar foes Greece – but Heimir Hallgrimsson bemoaned his side’s habit for slow starts.

Only after falling behind in both games did Ireland begin to spark, a pattern unsustainable if they’re to eventually end their wait for major tournament qualification.

“We are focusing on starting first halves like we are starting second halves,” said Szmodics, who scored a brilliant overhead kick in Sunday’s win at Tottenham Hotspur.

“We touched on it in the meeting this morning, starting the game as well as we finish. Not going a goal down before we start doing our bits.

“If that's a mental side of things or a togetherness side of things, we need to come up that quickly so we can start the games as quickly as possible.

“Instead of going behind to start playing the way we want to play, we need to start the games on a positive foot.”

Hallgrimsson’s assistant echoed the area for improvement.

“The big thing would be to take control of games earlier if we can,” said John O’Shea.

“Not to obviously go behind in games, to need to have more freedom in our play, to be more expressive and stronger in our play right from the start of games - psychologically making sure you're on the front foot right from the off and not needing a setback to fire the system up, so to speak.

“That’s ultimately building on a lot of positives, as well - looking at all aspects and knowing where we can improve.”

Matt Doherty is back in the squad after being originally omitted and O’Shea doesn’t sense any friction.

“The boss would have spoken to Matt and it was straightforward,” he noted.

“That experience is needed around the group. Matt is one of the elder statesmen as well and it's important to have that experience of lads who have been around the group for a long time.

“It's getting the balance right and trying the newer players in different positions etc, getting the balance of that right over the next few games and seeing what happens with the draw and planning going forward.”