MARTIN O’Neill last night bemoaned two refereeing decisions late in the game that went against his Republic of Ireland side – but he seemed happy to avoid defeat against World Cup qualifier opponents Austria.
Shane Duffy had the ball in Austria’s net in the closing stages – which was ruled out by Spanish referee David Fernandez Borbalan for a foul on defender Stefan Lainer – while the home side were denied a late penalty after Jonathan Walters appeared to be impeded just before he was about to shoot for goal.
The Irish fell behind to a 31st minute Martin Hinteregger goal before Walters grabbed an 85th minute equaliser that keeps O’Neill’s men well in the hunt for a place at next summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.
Describing the referee’s performance as “very poor”, O’Neill (right) added: “The Austrian defender [Lainer] was in a standing position and with the spin of the ball he [Duffy] gets a slight touch to it that would take it into the net.
“When the referee first pointed I thought he’d given the goal. The linesman is halfway up the pitch – he’s closer to me.
“But, listen, we can’t change it. It was poor. And then Jon Walters is caught, it’s a penalty. Now it’s accidental, but in this day and age it’s a penalty. Jon’s foot is caught.”
O’Neill added: “I think there was a sense of frustration [at the end] – no question about that. Walters gives us the equaliser which I thought our play deserved and with the momentum with us.
“But let’s not forget, we have to do much, much better in the first half. It’s a 90-minute game.
“You don’t want to be trailing in matches here, fighting for our lives to get something out of it.
“We have to address that. Our intention was to get on the front foot and in the first 15 minutes we did anything but.
“Our sloppy play allowed them to take their time and work their way into the game and as a consequence we conceded a goal.”
For long periods, the Republic huffed and puffed before Walters popped up to grab his first goal of the campaign.
“In the first 15 or 20 minutes of the game – we’re not meaning to – but Jon was isolated and then we’re not giving him the best service.
“Sometimes he was having to flick things on. But talking about Jon himself – he’s not the quickest, but he’s got a real knowledge of the game and he plays a really great role.
“In the Euro qualification he was our talisman, just in the same way James McClean is now.
“He is totally invaluable to us. His performance, particularly in the second half, was just immense.”
The Irish rode their luck in the second half but, O’Neill insisted, it was a natural consequence of having to chase an equaliser.
“There was always the possibility of Austria scoring at the other end because we’d so many attacking players on the pitch. But that’s the risk.
“I’m delighted we got the equaliser but I thought that we had a legitimate goal disallowed. The referee wasn’t to blame for our first half performance but considering he was letting things go during the course of the game but then he penalised us at the end.
“But I think there is a strength about the side. We lack a few things as you well know – I don’t have to point them out to you – but heart is not one of them.”
