In numbers: Ireland's key stats after Nations League play-off against Bulgaria

The Boys in Green came from behind to see off the visitors on Sunday night.

JOB DONE: Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson and assistant head coach John O'Shea. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

The Power of Five 

When Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah scored against Bulgaria on Sunday night, it was the first time in 18 months that two Ireland strikers found the net in the same competitive match (Ferguson and substitute Callum Robinson were on target against Gibraltar in Faro in October 2023). Like Ferguson and Idah, Troy Parrott also has five senior international goals to his credit. Hopes of World Cup qualification will depend on all three adding to their tally. Two-goal Ferguson is Ireland's top scorer under Heimer Hallgrímsson, with Liam Scales, Robbie Brady, Finn Azaz, Matt Doherty and Idah claiming the remainder of the seven goals netted in eight matches.

Changing Places 

Three different players filled the left-back berth against Bulgaria last Sunday: Robbie Brady for the first 66 minutes, substitute Ryan Manning for the next eight, then Matt Doherty, who switched flanks after James Dunne was introduced, until the final whistle. Players changing position was a feature of Hallgríimsson's 4-4-2 system in the play-off. In both legs, only three outfield players ended the match in their starting role (the two centre-backs and holding midfielder Josh Cullen). The impressive Finn Azaz, who featured as a support striker-cum-No. 10 in Plovdiv, started on the left side of midfield in Dublin before joining substitute Idah in attack for the last 15 minutes.

One Clean Sheet 

Ireland have fallen behind in seven of Hallgrímsson's eight matches, conceding 14 goals. The exception was the 1-0 home win against Finland last November, when Caoimhín Kelleher saved a penalty kick. Ironically, Ireland's most impressive 45 minutes of defending came in the scoreless first half of their 0-5 defeat against England at Wembley, when Nathan Collins was deployed as a midfield anchor who dropped into central defence out of possession. The same hybrid role may be in store for the captain against Portugal and Hungary later this year.