Evidence points to a missed opportunity

There was never a threat of victory from our hosts. In fact, there was nothing really hostile about the environment where the Irish fans almost turned it into a home fixture and we should easily have worked off this passion to secure the three points.

Quite simply, this was an opportunity lost. And yet, there was actually a stage where it got so calm that it looked like we could play out the win.

It was an unusual setting for such an important game - exactly the same as I remember when St Pat's played Slovan Bratislava in 1996.

The role of Stephen Ireland requires further comment. He scored an almost identical goal to the one against Wales but there was no general pattern established in midfield with neither team controlling possession.

The Irish team selection, especially Stephen Kelly at left back, ensured a lack of experience for this level.

The inclusion of Aiden McGeady, who I've a lot of time for as an international footballer, ahead of Stephen Hunt, whose form justified selection, seemed incorrect.

In particular, my concern was the right side of midfield where we lacked the know-how and physical prowess required for international football and the expected Slovakian assault.

While Kevin Kilbane's inclusion did offset the huge disadvantage at midfield, still, a significant gulf in class existed between Ireland's right side - McGeady and Ireland - and the left flank where Kilbane and Lee Carsley kept it tight and controlled.

Andy Reid's exclusion beggared belief. Ireland required a playmaker on the night but the most natural selection was left on the bench.

In that first 30 minutes, when matters were so crucial, Stephen Ireland failed to exert any presence on the midfield duel. His goal record remains remarkable. Five in six games makes him a real threat but Steve Staunton's decision to put so much fate in Ireland backfired as he became a liability in such a high- stakes game. He doesn't track and cover as a central midfielder should.

Unless playing a particular role off the front man, as he did to a degree of success against Wales, Ireland tends to be absent in a defensive midfield capacity. The team needed the two banks of four (defence and midfield) to be effective but only one was truly solid.

Both Ireland and McGeady went missing after our first goal, when we really needed midfield to exert some dominance. I counted nine scoring chances in that particular spell when the Slovaks overran midfield. Only the brilliance of Shay Given and Richard Dunne kept the goal intact after Klimpl exposed Kelly and Paul McShane at a corner for the equaliser.

In the second half, the pattern of attack and counter-attack continued, with chances at both ends, particularly Stephen Ireland's opportunity around the 50 minute mark.

On Saturday, I spoke extensively about Darron Gibson but I was still surprised to see him come on even if his lack of experience was countered by the physical presence he brought to Ireland's right flank.

The game flattened out from the hour mark to 85 minutes and while that suited Jonathan Douglas's introduction to the game (he has not played enough games this season), that further solidified the right side although the lack of football intelligence and passing ability remained a concern throughout.

The whole tempo of the game was too fast for the Irish midfield with Ireland and McGeady struggling with the pace of the Slovaks for sustained periods.

Robbie Keane was another noticeable figure by his anonymity during the game - except for his contribution to the first half goal, he had very little impact on the match.

Doyle's memorable strike changed the game once more but we were always liable to the sucker punch which came to pass when O'Shea and Douglas were caught out of position for the second equaliser.

The late goal strikes again. Why us? There is method here. Look around Europe's results this week and there will be plenty of late goals to secure a win or valuable point.

It's just that the better teams don't concede them. This was an Irish affliction even when Roy Keane was in the team, as seen against Israel.

The lack of control when we take a lead remains a serious concern.

The manager and players reaction afterwards was reasonably downbeat but Staunton did reiterate the point that four points remained the goal over the two games. The three points on offer here was an opportunity wasted. The draw will be fine if we win in Prague.

But beating a team directly above us in the table away from home remains an unreachable target for any Irish team in recent memory.

The challenge remains to get the essential balance to the team in both attack and defence.

Big decisions must again be made. One point from three away fixtures against Germany, Cyprus and the Slovak Republic doesn't engender massive confidence.

The definitive test comes next.