Ireland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina - O'Neill: Sitting on away goal would be disaster

Posted Monday, November 16, 2015 by PA

Martin O'Neill has warned the Republic of Ireland that relying on their away goal against Bosnia-Herzegovina to secure a ticket to the Euro 2016 finals would be "a recipe for disaster".

The Republic returned from Zenica on Friday night with a 1-1 draw having come within three minutes of a victory which might have made their task in the second leg at the Aviva Stadium on Monday slightly more straightforward.

They nevertheless enjoy a marginal advantage having scored in Bosnia, although their 63-year-old manager has insisted they cannot afford to play for the 0-0 draw which would guarantee a trip to France along with England, Northern Ireland and Wales next summer.

Asked about his pride should his team complete the job, O'Neill said: "My pride in the side has been there from the start. I think the players have wanted to play.

"There was a feeling beforehand that some players just weren't that bothered about playing for their country - I haven't witnessed it and I haven't experienced it in the two years that I've been here.

"Obviously, it would be terrific if we could do it, but I have to be very, very mindful of the fact that we are a long way away from doing that.

"We have to put things into perspective: Bosnia are capable of scoring, they could wipe that advantage, that away goal that we have within minutes of the game, and then suddenly they are on the front foot.

"If we think that we can keep them out for 90 minutes and camp ourselves just outside our own penalty area, that would be a recipe for disaster.

"We have to consider being really on the front foot, genuinely, and going and trying to win this game, and that's it.

"If you'd thought that we'd have to win in the Aviva for the final time, you probably would have taken that."

O'Neill will go into the game with Jonathan Walters available after suspension. John O'Shea, who was also banned for the first leg, and Shane Long trained in Abbotstown on Sunday morning as they continue their respective recoveries from hamstring and foot injuries.

Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is convinced the play-off remains on a knife edge after Edin Dzeko's late equaliser at the Bilino Polje Stadium handed Bosnia a lifeline.

Ireland's away goal may give them a slight advantage, but the 28-year-old Chelsea stopper insists there has not been a clear favourite since the draw was made, and there still is not.

He said: "Honestly, before the first tie it was two evenly-matched teams. I don't think there was one clear favourite. As the first game showed, there's not much between the two sides and I expect more of the same tomorrow night.

"It's about trying to execute as much as possible and as well as possible and then we will see where it takes us in the end. We will try to limit the mistakes and hopefully we can come out the other side.

"Maybe being at home Ireland will expect a little more and we will try to use that to our advantage."

Bosnia will have Everton midfielder Muhamed Besic back from suspension, although coach Mehmed Bazdarevic will make a late check on midfielder Mensur Mujdza after he limped off in the wake of a hefty collision with Ciaran Clark in Zenica.