‘We’ll improve for Slovakia’

teams will punish us. We gave away another silly goal again tonight which isn’t like us.’ Duffy revealed that Kenny wants the full-backs to play a lot higher which leaves him and Egan ‘two on two and dealing with big spaces.’ Duffy blamed a lack of match sharpness for his dip in form. ‘I know I’ve got to improve. I’ve been here before and what I need to do to get back to my best. Those slight seconds for the goal you’re tired.’

Robbie Brady offered ‘no excuses’ for Ireland’s lethargy. The defeat leaves Ireland five points behind current group leaders Wales and virtually out of the running. ‘We wanted to put our mark on it in these two games, we didn’t manage to do it. We’ll have some fixing to do and things to tighten up before the next games. There’s no excuses,’ admitted Brady. The Finns, ranked 58th to Ireland’s 34th in the world, had more attempts on goal, and shots on target, than the hosts. Their 3-5-2 system nullified Ireland, apart from a brief flurry before the Finn’s scored in the 64th minute. ‘I was experimental in the two games, we wanted to do better results-wise for sure – I can’t deny that,’ said Kenny, who defended his back four. ‘We’re set up in such a way to protect the back four. I thought they all played well.’ As for possibly tweaking his formation for Slovakia, Kenny said: I’m not wedded to anything. We will review everything and analyse it.’ Asked if the Slovakia play-off was too soon for what it is trying to do, Kenny said, ‘We will only know that after the game.’

‘I think we’ll be a lot better out there than we are now. We have a clear idea of what exactly we require.’ Kenny’s woe for his home debut was topped off by the absence of his manager’s notes in the match programme. There was nothing from the FAI president, or sponsors Three either. Perhaps the less said, the better.