O’SHEA: WE GOT FAR TOO COMPLACENT
COMPLACENCY and poor game-management were two reasons for Ireland’s shocking twominute collapse against Armenia last night, according to centre-half Dara O’Shea.
And while pleased to get the win, the West Brom man admitted there was disappointment in the Irish dressing room afterwards.
“I suppose I’m glad we won the game, but disappointed with how it went,” said the 23-yearold.
“There was a spell there for 15 minutes where we just completely lost our way and they got two goals back, which is really disappointing because we want to keep clean sheets.
“Playing against a better opposition and to compete against them, we’ve got to keep clean sheets.”
Asked why he felt the Boys in Green lost their way in those critical moments between the 71st and 73rd minutes, O’Shea replied: “Just complacency, I think.
“Obviously, it was a game where they dropped deep and we had lots of possession and we were attacking a lot.
“Maybe we were too attacking at that stage, trying to get an extra goal when the game could have been won at 2-0 if we’d just managed the game better.
“I’d probably put it down to that.”
It was O’Shea’s shot that struck the arm of Armenia’s first goalscorer Artak Dashyan that led to the late matchwinning penalty.
“I thought initially when it happened that it had to be, because it was on target and his hand was away from his body. So I thought it had to be,” he said.
“Then obviously we saw it (the VAR replay) and the crowd’s reaction as well, it obviously made it hard for the referee not to give it.”
He added: “I suppose it was a relief to have that chance to get back ahead.
“I think us as players, we weren’t too happy, even though we won the game, because we are all top players and we want to play against the best teams.
“To concede two goals against a team that we should be beating comfortably isn’t the best.”
The two goals were conceded from nowfamiliar terrain.
Ireland have become susceptible to longrange efforts and both of Armenia’s goals last night came when the shooter wasn’t closed down.
Downfall
“It’s kind of been our downfall, I suppose, shots from outside the box,” admitted O’Shea.
“We are just really disappointed with how we performed for those 15 minutes. It kind of spoils a good performance, as such.”
Would a more experienced bunch of players have managed the latter stages of last night’s match better?
“I don’t think it will come down to the youthful aspect of it,” replied O’Shea.
“Obviously we are all experienced in the games we play at club level too.
“It’s a collective, as a team. We have got to look at ourselves.
Eager to move on and look to November’s friendlies against Norway and Malta, and beyond, he added: “I don’t think we can look at it as a downer.
“All in all the campaign probably didn’t go the way we wanted it to go. We probably didn’t get what we deserved either with the performances we put in.”