Georgia is going to be FAR from easy so our minds must be focused

WORLD CUP QUALIFIER, THIS SATURDAY, 5.OOPM

MARTIN O’NEILL admits he’s fearful of what Ireland will face in Tbilisi next Saturday – and that he only has Georgia on his mind.

Ireland’s next opponents haven’t won a game in World Cup qualifying Group D to date.

But the Republic boss reckons his side must avoid a potential banana-skin against the group minnows if they’re to stay on course for the finals in Russia next summer.

It took an Aiden Mcgeady stunner to win in the Georgian capital in the qualifiers for Euro 2016 and O’neill knows only too well how Scotland’s campaign was derailed by defeat in that campaign - opening the door for Ireland’s passage through to France.

Ireland face group leaders Serbia at home just three days after their Tbilisi trip but O’neill insists he only has eyes for the first game of this qualification doubleheader.

“This is not going to be easy, this is a big game,” O’neill said.

“They took the lead against Serbia and should have gone 2-0 in front. It’s a tough game, a really tough match.

“I’m not even considering the Serbia game. We don’t have time. We won’t talk about Serbia until we climb onto the plane on the way home believe it or not. The match is so so important, ti will be very tough for us.” Ireland needed a solo effort by their skipper Seamus Coleman to seal the deal when Georgia came to Dublin earlier in this qualifying campaign. O’neill recalled: “It was a struggle, first half they were better than us and as we have done in my time here, we showed a real surge in the second half. “Seamus’ goal was enough to win the game. It was a tough evening.” However O’neill is optimistic that his players have enough experience and drive to see them over this first of four last obstacles, although there are concerns over the fitness of Burnley pair Jon Walters (ankle) and Jeff Hendrick (thigh). “I hope so,” the manager said. “The experiences of the qualification, the Germany win, the Bosnia matches and the episodes in France, the hiding we took against Belgium and the fightback against Italy, all of those things - it has stood some of the players in really good stead. “I do know we can be undone here, but I think there is a strong spirit within the squad. “And I didn’t think they give up too easily even when we’re second best in matches, as we have done - we still have to find a way through.”