Glasgow air turns blue as Long can’t find words to pierce the frustration

THERE were some spikey moments outside of Celtic Park after the final whistle screeched on Friday night. Scotland had got what they wanted with three valuable Euro 2016 qualifying points and Ireland were despondent. The contrast between fans could not have been greater.

In the makeshift marquee tents that were set up outside of the main stand, the managers and players spoke to the assembled media. But security was lax. One supporter from Dublin managed to find his way into proceedings just as Scott Brown was answering questions.

Without hesitation he shouted at the Scotland captain and called him a ‘f***ing w****r’. Brown seemed taken aback and merely smiled. Roy Keane was also on the receiving end of a tongue-lashing from a local middle-aged Celtic fan who waited for over an hour in the hope of an autograph.

When the Ireland assistant manager blanked the request and boarded the team bus some profanities followed from the man left hanging. And even Shane Long, usually quite placid, was vexed when it was put to him that Ireland have so far struggled to put together a consistent level of performance in Group D.

‘That’s a s*** comment,’ the striker snapped. ‘We’ve seven points from four games – an away draw in Germany, two wins, so results are all that matters; you can play as bad as you want once you get the points on the board.’

The problem was, on this particular night, Ireland didn’t get any points. Brown was damning in his assessment of the negative way he felt Ireland approached the game and felt Scotland were the only team interested in getting the ball down and playing football.

Jonathan Walters (above) was unable to put up much of a defence. ‘Erm, it felt a bit like that in the game,’ he admitted. ‘I’ll have to watch it again to see. I think they controlled it a little bit better, the tempo of the game, the two boys [Brown and Charlie Mulgrew] in the middle.’

Walters’ strike partner on the night, Long, provided an insight into the level of confidence which the Ireland players took into the game.

‘We expected more of ourselves there – on paper we’re the better team. But we didn’t play as well as we could. At the same time, the longer the game went on I thought we were going to get the win, but fair play to Scotland they did it.

‘It’s sickening – it’s hard to think past it because we’re still devastated. They’re not a bad side, but we were confident in ourselves and our ability that we could take the game to them. They played some good football, but we still felt comfortable in the game and it’s annoying a set piece cost us in the end.

‘We didn’t play well enough in the end, we didn’t get the ball down and pass it, so it’s frustrating. The occasion was massive, so it’s frustrating that we didn’t come out with at least a draw. I thought we were destined to get a draw, but it didn’t happen.’

Long’s start was his first under O’Neill in a competitive fixture but the Southampton man was unable to savour the feeling following Shaun Maloney’s fine winner.

‘I felt confident, trained well all week, had one or two chances – the one Jon (Walters) headed towards me and I flicked on, I was sure it was going in,’ he rued.

‘I didn’t get too many chances, I ran myself about and tried to make an impact, but it was tough. I found out just before the game, when the gaffer named the team. I felt good all week and was hoping to get the nod, I was eager to go, delighted – but it’s the opposite now.’

Still, confidence remains with four of the next five group games all on home soil.

‘You know, we look at the teams on paper, and we think we can put it up to any of them, even Poland and Germany – so hopefully the table won’t be decided on Friday night.’