Moldova vs Ireland - Seamus Coleman prepared to play waiting game again in Moldova

Posted Sunday, October 09, 2016 by PA

Seamus Coleman has warned the Republic of Ireland they may have to be patient once again as they attempt to collect a second World Cup qualifier victory in four days.

Coleman will lead Ireland in the Group D battle with Moldova in Chisinau on Sunday hoping life will be considerably more comfortable than it was in Thursday night's 1-0 win over Georgia at the Aviva Stadium, but prepared for the alternative.

He said: "Look, ideally we'd like to win games comfortably but at international level, you've got to earn the right to play initially.

"We have watched little bits on this team already - they press well, they work hard, so we've got to earn that right to play. Ideally, you want to win comfortably but it's not always the case.

"We've got a good group of lads, a group of lads who are together who I know for 90 minutes, whether it is going good or bad, will be in the game. They will help each other.

"It's all about getting three points, at the end of the day, and we'll be wanting to do that."

At 27, Everton full-back Coleman finds himself wearing the captain's armband for his country having taken over from striker Robbie Keane following his retirement from international football.

Coleman may not be the most demonstrative leader on the pitch, but manager Martin O'Neill has been delighted with his contribution so far.

O'Neill said: "Seamus has taken up the mantle of captaincy as if he was born to it. He's naturally a quiet enough lad in many aspects, but he's been terrific on the pitch.

"But he was terrific on the pitch even before he took the captaincy. I felt it was a natural progression.

"The two captains that I've had at international level have been Robbie when he's been available and John (O'Shea) when he's playing - and the chances are at the minute, with absolutely no disrespect to John, being a few years older than Seamus - is Seamus is probably going to be around a wee bit longer than John.

"But he's earned the right. Since he took the captaincy in France, he's been brilliant."

Ireland are without Jeff Hendrick through suspension and Robbie Brady because of injury at the Stadionul Zimbru, but O'Neill is confident he has the players to plug a sizeable gap.

He said: "It will be a blow for us, the two of them out at the same time. But that's the way it goes, so we have other players to come in and hopefully they will fill those gaps for us and go and perform."