We’ll put ‘em under pressure
CYRUS FEELS WELSH WILL FOLD
CYRUS CHRISTIE reckons Wales could buckle tomorrow night under the pressure they’re feeling to stay in touch with Ireland. Derby defender Christie claims the right start for Martin O’neill’s side will examine the Welshmen’s credentials as they desperately seek to avoid going seven points behind the boys in green in Group D. “The pressure is on them to catch up, going into Friday,” said the 24-year-old. “They’re the ones playing catch up. “We’ve set the standard, and we want to obviously maintain that. “If we do win then they’re quite far off it and so the pressure’s on them, and we won’t fear that. “We’ll go out there and we’ll play our game – and we’ll put the pressure on them, definitely.” It could be argued that Chris Coleman’s side will have the sharper appetite tomorrow night but Christie doesn’t see it that way. “No, of course not,” he countered. “We’ll set out to get after them from the get-go. As I said, the pressure is on them so they need to win the points more than us. But obviously we want those points as well to secure our place. “If we set out to put the pressure on them early and we test them, we’ll see how they fare with it.” There was an injury scare over skipper Seamus Coleman at the start of the week, adding to O’neill’s anxiety given the long list of casualties that have built up. Christie has proven to be a more than able deputy when Coleman has been absent but it’s now expected that the Derby man will take up his familiar bench role at Lansdowne Road. “I knew he was going to be OK anyway,” said the right-back. “I was ready to play if the worst comes to the worst. “I’ve done it before. I’ve come in when he was injured. I always prepare the same way and I’ll keep preparing the same way, just in case, but Seamus is fine. He trained well today.” And Christie is insistent that Ireland can provide a threat without dead ball specialist Robbie Brady, who is banned. “You look around the team there are plenty of players who can put balls in, not just Robbie,” he said. “We’ve been a threat from set pieces all the way throughout, there are plenty of boys here who can put a delivery in and set pieces are vital – but they can be won or lost, so we have to be on our toes for the set pieces, definitely.”