BREAK THE MOLD

O’neill: Visitors are going to be a tough nut to crack but it’s kill or be killed at this stage

MONDAY’S potential play-off decider with Wales has to mean something – and that’s all that matters tonight.

Ahead of tonight’s home clash with Moldova, O’neill and Roy Keane spoke about wanting to win – and win well. And yes, a lopsided scoreline in Ireland’s favour will boost spirits heading for Cardiff.

But to avoid that clash with the Euro semi-finalists becoming a painful dead-rubber, a win by the narrowest of margins will do just as well.

Another poor performance like the one in Tbilisi will grate, but it will also be forgotten by tomorrow if all roads lead to Cardiff City Stadium in three days’ time.

O’neill is right when he says Ireland rarely wipe the floor with teams – not even the minnows – and he predicts another edgy encounter this evening.

“The most important game is the one in front and if we win this match, other things take care of themselves,” he said.

“We’re down to a must-win situation so we must only consider this game.

“We have to win the games and the equation will be simple, but it’s going to be a tough match.

“In the past we’ve shown great resilience and great courage and can fight back from some adversity – that’s what we’re strong at. That’s what we need to show tonight. It’s not about bringing anything over to Cardiff. If we win the game, that will give us enough confidence to go to Cardiff.”

O’neill was in no mood to entertain questions about Gareth Bale’s absence for Wales in Georgia tonight and again on Monday.

“There’s no point in us talking about the Welsh game.

“There’s plenty of time to talk about it afterwards.

“This game tonight is it. It’s very important for the players and all of us to focus on the game because it will be a tough evening for us.

“(Moldova will be) hard to break down and we have to show some invention and try and get a bit of width into the team if we can.

And eventually when it goes into the penalty area we have to have someone to attack it. That’s very important as it’s how you score goals.

“It’s important to put

Wales on the backburner and concentrate on the game ahead and that’s what the players are doing.”

O’neill added: “Team selection will be pretty vital, but team selection is just one part of it – the players have to go out and play.

“They are looking forward to the game and they need to perform, but they are up for it.”