I FELT WE JUST LACKED A ROB OF THE GREEN

THE sight of the number 14 lighting up the fourth official’s screen got the reaction Callum Robinson’s performance deserved.

The home supporters in the Lansdowne Road crowd weren’t happy as they watched Ireland’s liveliest player get the shepherd’s hook.

There was still half an hour to go, Martin O’neill’s side were 1-0 down and the one man who looked like he could create something was gone.

“That’s the manager’s choice,” said Robinson, who was starting a third game since his debut last month against the same opposition in Cardiff.

“We wanted to change it up.

“It’s one of those where we go 1-0 down and he obviously wants to bring on Seanie Maguire.

“It nearly worked at the end, we nearly got the goal when we were pushing on.

“You always feel like you’ve more to offer; if not, then you’re not a positive thinker – and I’m a positive thinker and positive in the way I play.

“That’s the gaffer’s choice to bring on Seanie and he was good in the game as well.

“I wasn’t tired, I was fine. It was a decision to push more for the game and bring on another striker, which is perfectly fine.”

Robinson’s display was the only positive for O’neill during that 4-1 loss in Cardiff, and it was pretty much the same story last night as he got on the ball and tried to make things happen.

“I tried to be as bright as possible,” said the Preston attacker. “I tried to get on the ball in dangerous areas, which was quite hard in the game.

“But obviously as the game goes on, it opens up and the lads proved it did because when they came on they provided a real good threat.

“I was gutted when their goal went in, I thought we were still well in the game.

“I knew we would end strongly, as we did, and it’s just disappointing to be chasing the game.

“Of course we’re not in a great position but we have to go over to Denmark and get a result now, we have to win the game and I feel with the character in the dressingroom, we’ll be fine.”

And O’neill? Is his future in doubt now?

“I wouldn’t say so, I think the gaffer... we’re really tight in the dressing-room, with the staff and the players, and I wouldn’t think that’s an issue at all.

“You can see some young players like myself coming through and I came off for Seanie Maguire, for instance, and Aiden O’brien also played so there are a lot of new faces.

“It’s obviously a rebuilding thing but at the same time we’ve got some really positive players as well.”