Soccer

Martin O'Neill content despite Republic of Ireland drawing another blank

Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman (left) and Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, Group B4 match at Ceres Park, Aarhus on Monday November 19 2018. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire. 
Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman (left) and Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, Group B4 match at Ceres Park, Aarhus on Monday November 19 2018. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire.  Republic of Ireland's Seamus Coleman (left) and Denmark's Mathias Jorgensen battle for the ball during the UEFA Nations League, Group B4 match at Ceres Park, Aarhus on Monday November 19 2018. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA Wire. 

THE Republic of Ireland brought their 2018 season to an end in a fitting fashion last night – by failing to score as they drew 0-0 with Denmark in their final Uefa Nations League Group B4 game.

While the match carried little significance in the competition with Martin O’Neill’s side already relegated and their hosts already promoted ahead of their meeting in Aarhus, it provided another example of the side’s lack of bite in attack although they did defend stoutly against the home side.

It was the fourth time in a row that they had drawn a blank – the first time that has occurred since 1996 – while it also meant that they failed to score in six of their nine games in 2018 with the team managing just four goals in all across those fixtures.

While admitting that it has been a testing year, O’Neill was remaining defiant last night.

“It (2018) has certainly been tough,” he told Sky Sports.

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“I think that might have been our ninth game, we’ve had five friendly matches, not easy friendly matches.

“We’ve been away to France and away to Turkey, not easy games.”

O’Neill also praised the defensive effort against Denmark, ensuring that Åge Hareide’s side were unable to score against them in both Uefa Nations League fixtures.

“I thought the commitment was absolutely excellent against a very strong Danish side.”

Team captain Seamus Coleman, who also used his post-match interview to pay tribute to supporter David Clerkin who lost his life in Copenhagen yesterday, was also trying to remain positive.

“It’s a clean sheet away from home,” he said.

“I think we needed some kind of result to come back with.

“Obviously in the final third is where we still need a bit of work.

“We battled well tonight, we kept a clean sheet. We take tonight on tonight and a clean sheet away from home is a good result.”

The Republic of Ireland went into the game with strong criticism ringing in their ears following a lacklustre performance in their scoreless draw with Northern Ireland last week, but Coleman felt that there were more signs of life last night.

“I think we were more at it, we tried to get into it in the right areas and win the ball back.

“We did that at times and, as I say, just a little bit of improvement (is needed) in the final third.

“It was a difficult game, it’s difficult coming away from home and we tried to play at the right times.

“I thought we did that. I thought Jeff (Hendrick) got on the ball a lot and tried to make things happen so I definitely saw some improvement.”

Attention now turns to the Euro 2020 draw which will be held in Dublin on Sunday, December 2.

The Republic of Ireland will be in the third seed pot as a result of finishing behind Denmark and Wales in their group, but Coleman believes that they can turn things around before qualification begins next March.

“When we put on this Irish jersey we play with massive pride,” he said.

“We’ve had some big results in the past and I believe that can be the case again.”