Early goal gives us a glimpse of Trap's Plan B

After 10 minutes we glanced to see what was held in reserve. But the options were sparse, writes BRIAN KERR, Soccer Analyst

LAST NIGHT provided us with an insight into Giovanni Trapattoni’s Plan B. Maybe it could become Plan A against similar opposition in the future?

It has to be said, Georgia were at best inept and lacked the discipline to ever turn over a top international side.

For the first time in a competitive match under Trapattoni the Republic of Ireland were forced to chase a game. They will find themselves in this position again, no doubt, so it is crucial that lessons are learned.

Kevin Doyle and, of course, a vital and heartening contribution from Robbie Keane in the second half, salvaged the points, but any alternative plan is about having options to change a game.

We feared a long night when the crowd were getting grumpy after 10 minutes, and we glanced to see what was held in reserve even before half-time. But the options were sparse, with the exception of the energy Stephen Hunt is guaranteed to bring to the fray.

It brings us back to that well-worn point: two highly talented Irish attacking midfielders remain in exile.

Stephen Ireland’s is enforced, yet, given Liam Brady’s comments at the squad announcement, he is no longer being pursued. But the guile Andy Reid could have brought to this contest remains unnecessarily unavailable.

Any dreams we had beforehand of a free-flowing, open game were stymied by Georgia’s early goal; it gave them something to cling to as they went about shutting up shop and disrupting any potential Irish attacking pattern.

The disastrous start, due to a couple of defensive errors, at least ensured any conservatism was shelved. Glenn Whelan found himself ahead of the ball for the first time as a senior international shortly after the goal. The fullbacks were also forced off the lease, but to limited effect. Understandably, they were unused to this in green jerseys recently, but we failed to find any rhythm in our passing.

Some concerns can be raised about the state of the pitch, such were the number of waylaid passes and players checking stride as the ball bobbled in their possession.

So, a new approach was forced upon Trapattoni by Alexander Iashvili’s strike after 46 seconds. No question, Stephen Kelly was at fault for failing to get in a clearance, but Richard Dunne should have got a challenge in on David Siradze’s flick on. That needed to be his ball, but with Siradze the lead striker in a 4-3-3 formation neither centre back was inclined to pick him up.

Poor early concentration could have cost us dearly.

There were further warnings, with Shay Given forced into conceding a corner not long after the goal. The back four looked rusty and unfamiliar, particularly Kelly and Dunne.

It set a nervous tone, and provided us with the worrying thought that Dunne’s club form for Manchester City might be transferred onto the international stage. He recovered well.

My gut feeling tells me Keith Andrews and Glenn Whelan may struggle at this level once the tempo is raised. They seem too one-paced. They were denied possession off their defence as the Georgians midfield pressed up, forcing the long-ball option, which proved inaccurate.

We waited for them to exert some badly-needed influence on matters that did, in fairness, eventually come in the second half.

Keith Andrews was unfortunate to have his goal disallowed, as it would have given him a huge confidence boost. A final evaluation on the Blackburn Rovers player’s international calibre should be reserved for another time.

When better international sides play three or even five across midfield, a mobile pairing becomes essential. We don’t have that right now. It also requires the wide men to become narrow to assist, but our wingers are natural-born attackers and it goes against their instincts to play such a role. Neither did Doyle or Keane drop back to help gain control as we chased a goal.

All told, it made Zurab Menteshashvili look far better than he was, as he could sit and pass at will. He should have been sent-off early in the second half for hacking Whelan, having already gone through the back of Andrews. Hector Cuper was wise to withdraw him 20 minutes from time.

The Georgian goalkeeper, Giorgi Lomaia, looked extremely dodgy, but while the midfield holding stations were abandoned and the tempo notably increased there was still a lack of quality or ability available to trouble him from long range.

The set-piece delivery was poor, but a goal looked likely from the hour mark.

The Georgians, remember, were in their off-season and it began to show as matters wore on. It told in the end, but it took a questionable penalty – we were probably due it considering Mr Hyytia’s leniency over the constant stream of fouls on Doyle, Damien Duff and Aidan McGeady – to pull matters level.

Bulgaria should prove a far more searching examination, provided Dimitar Berbatov is in decent humour on their visit to Croke Park next month.

There are obvious positives, like Keane’s goals, so the show rolls on. Ten points from four games is impressive, but what comes next will define the group.

‘Andrews was unfortunate to have his goal disallowed, as it would have given him a huge confidence boost. A final evaluation on the Blackburn Rovers player’s international calibre should be reserved for another time