Bulgaria v Ireland: Not pretty but some eastern promise in hard-fought road win

The Boys in Green took control of their Nations League playoff. 

LOOKING UP: Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson celebrates after the game. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

NOT one to live long in the memory but let’s not get sniffy either.

When was the last time Ireland defended a lead away from home for more than 45 minutes with such comfort?

Heimir Hallgrimsson had stressed the importance of starting the international year strong and despite a horror start, this was an easily-earned result – if not particularly easy on the eye.

It has to be stressed that Bulgaria are in an even greater level of disarray on and off the pitch and the empty seats across the compact Stadion Hristo Botev underlined their public’s apathy. With little more than half an hour on the clock, the game level, those who bothered to turn out could be heard booing their team’s lack of pressure as Ireland played the ball around.

And once Ireland went in front a couple of minutes before the break thanks to Matt Doherty’s latest redemptive act, the night became bizarrely straightforward with Caoimhin Kelleher a passenger between the posts.

Then again this was always going to be a slightly weird occasion, its importance debatable even now. How much do Ireland really want the glory of a victory in a Nations League relegation play-off?

Sure, the simple act of winning matches is good for confidence following that second-half drubbing away to England in November. But when one of the pre-match questions is “Would relegation be that catastrophic?”, you know Sunday night’s final outcome is unlikely to cause too many sleepless nights across the island.

On one hand Scotland have shown the benefits of facing perceived slighter challenges in League C – a chance to build momentum despite the absence of glamour. And that is before getting into the argument over whether this tournament has become that much more than a series of friendlies dressed up nicely.

On the other, if a football team is not doing what it can to win matches then what is the point? Hallgrimsson, of course, is firmly in the latter camp and Sunday now presents a rare, rare opportunity where Ireland could win twice in the same window for the first time since October 2021.

A reminder of how low the team’s stock has fallen? No doubt, but it is a glimmer of progress that must not be ignored.

Not that the disposition was so sunny early on last night.

Any sense of this first fixture of the year being a clean slate, aided by a heavily revamped starting XI, was quickly scrapped by the sight of an avoidable long-range concession with less than six minutes on the clock.

It was a familiar looking goal to concede - slack defending as both Josh Cullen and Dara O’Shea were flipped like pancakes before Kelleher was beaten from outside the box, albeit with a shot that went in off the upright - but there was at least something tangible to take from the response.

Mikey Johnston and Finn Azaz linked up well, while both full backs were afforded acres of space to get forward. Surprise inclusion Ryan Manning got on the end of two headed chances in an energetic performance before Ireland really got going while Doherty went on to score the second from right back.

Azaz’s leveller was ultimately the product of quick-thinking that exploited the home side’s dawdling. Azaz could not miss an open goal from three yards but the build-up was neatly carried out with much to admire from both Robbie Brady’s deep cross and Troy Parrott’s assured cutback.

Parrott – chosen instead of the not-fully-fit Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah – has been in rude form for AZ Alkmaar. There are signs of him maturing as a player and because of his early integration it is easy to forget he is still just 22.

Doherty, meanwhile, was still stewing on the bench at Wolverhampton when Ireland last lined out at Wembley. Since then he has worked his way into new Wolves head coach Vitor Pereira’s plans and found a rhythm that has been absent for some time. What turned out to be the match-winner came thanks to a bit of bravery and adventure that has collectively been missing too often.

Hallgrimsson’s substitutions suggested there are more options off the bench as well. Jake O’Brien has become a regular at Everton and continues to develop into a player who must surely be a first-choice pick in the not too distant future. Rocco Vata, booked seconds into his debut, is one to be excited about in the future according to the boss.

Clutching at straws? Perhaps, although that is better than grasping at fresh air.