SEAMUS COLEMAN believes the Republic of Ireland achieved what they had set out to in regards their September double-header of Euro 2016 qualifying fixtures.
Martin O’Neill’s team defeated Georgia 1-0 at the Aviva Stadium last night having overcome Gibraltar on a 4-0 scoreline on Friday in Faro.
With Scotland losing 3-2 at home to Germany and going down 1-0 in Tbilisi against Georgia on Friday, it means Ireland sit in third place with a four-point lead over Gordan Strachan’s side who two fixtures each to play.
“You saw how quickly this week turned the group around,” Coleman told FAI tv. “We’ve a long, long way to go in this group. We wanted six points and we got six points but we’re not thinking of qualification just yet.
“Georgia are a handful and they’ve got some good players as Scotland would’ve found out and we found out as well. With them coming here to the Aviva we would’ve expected to beat them. We got three points and we go from there.”
Coleman returned to the starting line-up having missed out in Faro with a slight hamstring complaint. The Killybegs native had the only shot on target, which was tipped over his own crossbar by Georgian goalkeeper Nukri Revishvili, in an indifferent first half.
However, after a better start to the second half, Ireland were rewarded on 69 minutes when Jonathan tapped in the only goal of the game following neat approach play from Jeff Hendrick.
Shay Given kept goal for Ireland, while Ciaran Clark, whose father Mick was brought up in Milford, played centre-half. Glasgow-born James McCarthy qualifies to play for Ireland through his ancestry in Doirenamainsear, Annagry, lined out in the centre of midfield.
“The Irish spirit is always there – from the fans to the players we always have to fight for everything we get,” Coleman added. “I thoughts the lads did brilliant this week and next month we have to fight just as hard.
““When you’re in that situation you have to keep plodding away and I think we did that. We were just hoping that the goal would come. Sometimes like that they don’t come. Thankfully Johnny got in and Jeff did fabulous. We’ll take that all day.”
Here’s the only goal of the game …
https://wwwyoutube.com/watch?v=2TE52cAh2FI
Ireland are next in action against Germany, back at Aviva Stadium on Thursday October 8 before rounding off Group 4 with a contest against Poland in Warsaw.
“We’re just thinking of our next game and trying to win that because this group can turnaround very quickly,” Coleman added. “A full house would be fantastic. Germany are a top team – they’re world champions – but we’d a great result out there. I’m sure they won’t be looking forward to us when we have to fight for something. We’ll take it one game at the time but hopefully we can get there.
“Every fan and every pundit want to see pretty football but every so often it’s about getting the three points. We wanted six points from this week and we got iy any way at all and thankfully we did.”
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