'It Feels Like We Lost It' Says Staunton

The Boys In Green let a 2-1 lead slip with just a few minutes of the match remaining, when hesitance at the back let in Cech to blast home the equaliser for the home side.

Manager Steve Staunton knows that his side threw away the opportunity to gain a much needed win in their Euro2008 qualifying campaign.

With the result, the Republic of Ireland sit in third place in Group D, three points behind the Czech Republic, a deficit that would have been more favourable with a win.

Although the team still came away from tough conditions in Bratislava with a draw, Staunton admits the result feels much worse.

“I’m very disappointed, it feels as if we lost the game, but I suppose the most important thing is that we didn’t lose it,” he told Sky Sports.

“Our retention of the ball was poor, our passing was poor and it cost us in the end. We did far too much work because of sloppy play.


“For the first half hour we did well. We contained them and we were in control. But then two or three passes went astray, they had a couple of shots and we couldn't get out of our own penalty box. We brought it on ourselves,” he continued to the BBC.


“Any time you concede a goal in the last minute you will be disappointed. We didn't get hold of the ball at all and didn't pass it as well as we can so those things have to improve if we are to beat the Czechs.


“If we are going to qualify then we have to win the game in Prague on Wednesday. That would open it again.”