11 PAGES OF SPORT – INSIDE
IRELAND 0 WALES 0:
RYAN Giggs admits Wales’ performances need to improve following their blunt showing against Republic of Ireland.
The visitors desperately struggled to create chances against a significantly weakened Irish outfit – who had James McClean sent off late on – at the Aviva Stadium, with the game ending goalless.
However, the stalemate does mean that Wales remain unbeaten in the 2020/21 Nations League while they are yet to concede a goal from their three outings in the latest edition of the competition.
But Giggs concedes that Wales –who were without the likes of Gareth Bale, Joe Allen and Chris Mepham in Dublin – must improve against Bulgaria on Wednesday night, adding that his side can be pleased with their haul of seven points from the nine on offer so far.
“It was a bit scrappy. We didn’t really get into our rhythm and you’ve got to give credit to Ireland for that. They pressed us,” Giggs told Sky Sports.
“I thought we started the second half a lot better, but then it got scrappy which suited Ireland a lot more than us.
“We need to create more, and I think that comes from the buildup. We need to get our good players, or our players who can make a difference, on the ball quicker. We need to create more chances if we’re going to score more goals.
“But three games, three clean sheets, seven points, two away games, so you have to be happy.
“But our performances obviously need to get better, and they will.”
Giggs was left frustrated on the touchline shortly after the half-hour mark when referee Tasos Sidiropoulos failed to award Wales a penalty for Darren Randolph’s collision with Ethan Ampadu in the box.
Discussing the incident, the 46-yearold said: “It certainly wasn’t a foul against Ethan, that’s for sure.
“To get a foul against him, the ‘keeper drops it, he heads the ball, that’s not a foul against him.
“Of course, we’d have liked a penalty. They’re decisions some times you get. It certainly wasn’t a foul against Ethan, so I don’t know what the referee was doing.”
Wales remain in top spot in group four of League B at the midway point of the campaign.
However, they will be without Joe Morrell and Kieffer Moore in their next outing against Bulgaria after the pair picked up their second yellow cards of the campaign in the draw with Stephen Kenny’s troops.
But Giggs says the absence of Cardiff City forward Moore will provide another attacking player with the opportunity to impress in Sofia on Wednesday night.
“That physical presence that he brings, and he brings other players into the game,” added Giggs.
“When players are missing, it gives another player a chance.”
WALES’ 100% winning record in the 2020/21 Nations League came to an end as they were held to a goalless draw in a drab encounter with Republic of Ireland at the Aviva Stadium.
Ryan Giggs’ side desperately struggled to create clear-cut openings in Dublin, with Harry Wilson and David Brooks registering the visitors’ only efforts on target.
In truth, the hosts carried the greater threat, with Daryl Horgan and Shane Long both missing good opportunities to bulge the net.
Wales pressed for a winner late on after James McClean was sent off, but they were unable to make it three wins from three in the competition, although the stalemate ensured they are yet to concede a goal in the latest edition of the Nations League.
Prior to the game, it was confirmed that Republic of Ireland would be without Adam Idah and Aaron Connolly after they had come into close contact with a member of staff who tested positive for coronavirus ahead of their Nations League play-off semi-final loss to Slovakia.
And the hosts’ preparation for the fixture was thrown into chaos just hours ahead of kick-off as it emerged that five men had to be left out after an unnamed player tested positive for Covid-19.
John Egan, Alan Browne, Callum O’Dowda, Callum Robinson and James McCarthy were all left out of Republic of Ireland’s 23-man squad, and it meant Stephen Kenny had just seven substitutes on the bench, with Wales having the full quota of 12 replacements.
Giggs had problems of his own, with Gareth Bale and Joe Allen both unavailable, while Chris Mepham was ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the 3-0 defeat to England on Thursday night.
However, they were handed a significant boost as Cardiff striker Kieffer Moore – who went into the game having scored in three of his four away matches for Wales – was declared fit to play after recovering from the toe problem he sustained at Wembley.
Ethan Ampadu slotted in alongside Joe Rodon in the absence of Mepham to complete the centreback pairing in front of Wayne Hennessey, who moved ahead of Neville Southall to become the second most-capped men’s player for Wales.
And, in an additional boost, Aaron Ramsey started for the visitors, with the Juventus ace taking the captain’s armband in Dublin.
Wales went into the match having won each of their last four competitive fixtures without conceding a goal.
As for the Irish, they were going in search of their first triumph since Kenny became boss earlier this year and went into the game without a victory in their previous seven competitive outings.
There was nothing for either side to shout about early on as jabs were traded in what was a low-key encounter.
It took 17 minutes until the first shot, with Robbie Brady unable to test Hennessey.
And both sides were dealt a blow soon after as Kevin Long had to be replaced after suffering an eye injury as a result of a collision with Moore – a challenge that earned the forward a yellow card, meaning he is suspended for the clash with Bulgaria on Wednesday.
Giggs’ men slowly started to find their rhythm and saw Wilson fire a curling shot at goal from just outside the box prior to the half-hour mark, although Darren Randolph was equal to the effort.
Rodon headed over from a corner soon after, and the visitors were left furious on 32 minutes as Ampadu went down in the box under a challenge from Randolph after the Republic of Ireland goalkeeper fumbled the ball.
But referee Tasos Sidiropoulos awarded a free-kick to the hosts as opposed to pointing to the penalty spot.
Brady was then unable to rub salt into the wounds having fired wide after pouncing on Wilson’s loose pass.
And substitute Cyrus Christie drilled an effort just over the crossbar to bring an end to what was an uninspiring first half at the Aviva Stadium.
Shane Long – on what was his first start for his country in two years – had the game’s best opening 10 minutes after the restart, although he was unable to head Enda Stevens’ cross beyond Hennessey.
Dylan Levitt and Neco Williams replaced Matt Smith and Wilson midway through the second half as both sides continued to look blunt at the business end of the pitch.
Republic of Ireland substitute Horgan blazed over from close range shortly after Brooks replaced Daniel James.
But the home side were reduced to 10 men with seven minutes left on the clock as McClean was redcarded for a cynical foul on Ampadu, with Joe Morrell now unavailable to face Bulgaria after picking up his second booking of the campaign.
But Giggs’ troops were unable to find a late winner, as they did against both Finland and Bulgaria in the most recent international camp, meaning the spoils were shared in Dublin.
Wales play their third and final game of the current international break against Bulgaria on Wednesday
BEN DAVIES
Another solid outing from a seasoned campaigner in a Wales shirt. Reliable in possession and kept a lid on the dangerous Robbie Brady for the most part.
Rushed and harried the Irish midfield. Will have wanted to produce a little more when Wales launched their counterattacks, though. Needed to do a bit more.