Neither team draw comfort
ALL that mattered here was the result. It’s safe to say neither side will be entirely happy with the outcome. The Republic of Ireland have been displaced at the top of this World Cup qualifying group and Wales now have one game less to try and drag themselves back into contention. On the evidence of what Chris Coleman’s men showed here, they don’t have it in them to really dig deep when Gareth Bale is not on form.
They are without a doubt a oneman show, luckily for them it will go on after this. The sight of Seamus Coleman leaving the pitch with an oxygen pump in his hand following Neil Taylor’s shocking tackle in the 69th minute was a disturbing one. The red card which followed was deserved and while Ireland put the pressure on to snatch all three-points, a draw was all they could muster. It was all either team deserved.
Victory would have been sweet for Ireland but this draw will taste bitter not just because Serbia lead the way on goal difference, but the fact the team’s leader may now well be out of action for some time.
Ireland didn’t do enough from the first whistle but Wales were lacklustre, too, despite taking the initiative. There appeared to be a mixture of defiance and mild annoyance in Coleman’s voice in the pre-match press conference when he stressed that he had no reason to distrust his players to deliver a performance worthy of the occasion.
The Welsh boss pointed out that his side had lost just once in the previous 16 qualifying games and that they had always come good when it mattered. He stopped short of reminding everyone that Wales came from a goal down to comprehensively beat Belgium 31 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016, but then it could have been levelled at him that his charges had struggled in the so-called derby games of international football.
England inflicted a 2-1 defeat in the group stages while it took a Gareth McAuley own goal for Northern Ireland’s resistance to be broken once they had reached the last-16. The way in which Joe Allen, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey and even Bale were encouraged to take the ball from the back five last night was an indication of the faith Coleman has in his team to impose their will on any game.
They had no problem doing so last night, and it was frustrating to see Ireland content with sitting deep and allowing the visitors do as they please in front of them. Of course, there was no danger in that, except for that delightful 24th minute defencesplitting diagonal pass from Bale which caught Coleman napping.
Taylor’s touch was poor and the chance was gone, but in an instant Ireland were carved open. It didn’t happen again.
Aside from the shrill of the diabolical band stationed behind the south stand that attempted to stir Ireland fans into song every 15 minutes or so, the only thing more frustrating was seeing Ireland play as if this was Bale and the rest of his Real Madrid teammates rocking into town.
Wales had to be respected for their heroics at the European Championships but after a while of watching Aston Villa’s James Chester being allowed step out from the right side of a three-man central defence and pick whichever pass he deemed fit, it needed someone in a green jersey to realise that this wasn’t Sergio Ramos they were up against. Too much deference was afforded to the away side and while there was still some tasty challenges put in, not enough was done in that first 45 minutes. Bale’s flow had to be disrupted and an early challenge from James McClean seemed to suggest that Ireland would be all over him, and those in his supply line, like a bad rash.
But it wasn’t the case. After all this Ireland squad have been through at the Euros and in the games prior to this one in Group D, you would have expected them not to cow to anyone, especially at home in front of a roaring Aviva Stadium
It took the disturbing sight of Coleman being stretchered off with an oxygen pump in his hand to rouse Ireland into something resembling a force to really be reckoned with. Taylor was deservedly sent off for the horror tackle and the home side’s tails were up.
McClean was the one forcing the issue with typically energetic bursts forward and he had a shot deflected wide. O’Neill, too, sensed blood, and threw on Aiden McGeady for David Meyler to try and get the goal to send Ireland back to the top of the table and all but end Wales’ hopes of automatic qualification.
It didn’t come and there will be more battles down the line, Ireland must be ready from the get-go.