A BIT OF PREVIOUS...

REP OF IRELAND...1 WALES...0 (28/3/90, FRIENDLY, LANSDOWNE RD)

BERNIE SLAVEN joined the elite club of Irish players to score on their debut, with a late match-winner in another drab duel at Lansdowne Road. Charlton kept faith with Ronnie Whelan as captain as the midfielder had worn the armband in the previous game, when qualification was secured in Malta. By the finals, Whelan didn’t wear a first XI jersey, never mind the armband.

Rep of Ireland: Bonner; Morris, McCarthy, Moran, Staunton; J Byrne, Sheridan, Whelan (capt), Townsend; Slaven, Cascarino. Subs used: Sheedy, Hughton, O’Leary. Wales: Southall; Hall, Melville, Maguire, Aizlewood, Phillips, Horne, Nicholas, Davies, Allen, Rush. WALES...0 REP OF IRELAND...3 (6/2/91, FRIENDLY, WREXHAM)

A BIZARRE game on a frozen Wrexham pitch should never have got safety clearance. But for the large contingent of Irish fans who had made their way over, it would certainly have been cancelled. Non-tackling was the order of the night, as Ireland won with goals from Niall Quinn (2) and John Byrne.

REP OF IRELAND...0 WALES...1 (19/2/92, FRIENDLY, RDS)

IRELAND’S first home loss for six years was played at the third different Dublin venue for a Welsh visit under Charlton’s reign. The game was settled by Mark Pembridge’s goal in the 70th minute. Roy Keane had a goal disallowed for offside late on as Neville Southall repelled the Irish efforts.

REP OF IRELAND 2 WALES 1 (17/2/93, FRIENDLY, TOLKA PARK)

WITH Jack Charlton keeping an eye on World Cup opponents Albania and Northern Ireland, his assistant Maurice Setters was in charge for a rare international at Tolka Park. Dave O’Leary shipped a knock to the head early on and was replaced. In the reshuffle, Roy Keane played at centre-back but Ireland were still disorganised when Mark Hughes fired Wales in front. However, Ireland struck twice in the final 15 minutes through Kevin Sheedy and Tommy Coyne. Rep of Ireland: Bonner; Morris, Carey, O’Leary (capt), McGoldrick; Byrne, Keane, McLoughlin, O’Brien; D Kelly, Cascarino. Subs used: Whelan, A Kelly, Sheedy, Coyne, Slaven. Wales: Southall; Phillips, Young, Aizlewood, Symons; Bodin, G Williams, Horne, Pembridge, Speed, Hughes.