Rep of Ireland 1 Czech Rep 1: With the insults of Cyprus still ringing in their ears, the Republic of Ireland knew only a typically Irish performance would be acceptable at Lansdowne Road. And so it proved. Steve Staunton boxes on for another day as his injury-hit, makeshift squad stood up to the plate and delivered.
Yes, it may only be a point - it could have been more - but in light of recent events it's currency in the qualification race nonetheless.
While the race to Austria and Switzerland may yet prove a bridge too far, back-to-back games with San Marino loom and with them an opportune time to banish the recent nightmare and build on this performance. Six points it should be, but, of course, it would be foolish to take such things for granted considering recent events.
A returning warhorse in Lee Carsley and a peppering of fresh faces with points to prove, provided the platform from which Ireland saved face after the weekend from hell. Kevin Kilbane's second half goal was a flash back, or perhaps a glimpse forward, to all things good but the Czechs spoiled the party with a swift riposte.
Keen to atone for their weekend debacle, the home side began encouragingly. Fired-up, they played with passion and belief, quick to breaking ball and inventive with it secured. Indeed, it was a far cry from the display on that fateful night. The Czechs, though, were anything but bystanders and ensured it wasn't entirely one way traffic.
Still, Ireland's industrious application and smart attitude stood them in good stead in those opening exchanges. Debutante defender Paul McShane, despite requiring a stepladder to outclimb the giant Jan Koller, often unsettled the striker and looked more than comfortable alongside John O'Shea, who himself relished the change in position.
Whereas Saturday's play was ridiculously disjointed, Staunton's men, in almost every department, made the step up required of them. Carsley, back in the side after a two year absence, provided solidity to a midfield that was non existent four days ago. And Stephen Kelly, deployed at left back, was also notably composed and gave a glimpse of his potential, in the first half at least, which was questioned up to now.
Despite that, however, you sensed the visitors were not fully extending themselves at times. Captain Tomas Rosicky was menacing when in possession, probing at every opportunity. He linked well with overlapping full back Tomas Ujfalusi, but more often than not Kelly snuffed out the danger before crosses for Koller were supplied.
But Ireland threatened often and by half-time had carved out more scoring opportunities than their opponents. Despite a considerable height advantage, the Czech defence struggled as their diminutive opposite numbers scurried with intent around their feet.
Jonathan Douglas, played through from a throw-in, was one-on-one with Petr Cech but the Chelsea goalkeeper saved dramatically with his legs. Not long after, O'Shea took advantage of a ball-watching defence but headed Andy Reid's delicious free narrowly over. The home crowd, sensing the collective resurgence, rallied their players along thereafter with deafening chants.
But, the levels of energy expended would always be difficult to sustain. And so it proved late in the half as the home side were guilty, on more than one occasion, of complacency.
Koller, when released from McShane's grasp, looked to feed those around him and, on the stroke of half-time, was instrumental to the visitor's first true scoring opportunity. From Rosicky's free, he nodded down to Milan Baros whose close-range shot was saved superbly by Wayne Henderson, down quickly with Steve Finnan clearing off the line.
Staunton's men ploughed forward after the restart and the pace and frequency with which they attacked was most impressive. Not always pretty, but effective nonetheless. Reveling amid their new-found confidence, they quickly rattled a defensive unit which appeared less than water-tight. And, after 62 minutes, the hosts were duly rewarded.
Damien Duff broke down the right, cleverly turning his marker inside out like the Duffer of old . He crossed low into the box and Kilbane, who until then had little or no influence on proceedings, fired an unstoppable shot high into Cech's net. The Wigan man raced to the touchline, quickly followed by his team-mates, and vigorously embraced his manager.
But that joy was short-lived. Only two minutes had elapsed before Koller left his mark. Played into space, with just McShane for company, the Monaco hitman brushed off the West Brom defender all too easily and beat Henderson with a fierce, angled shot from just inside the area.
A leg-weary Irish side lived something of a charmed live for the remainder, gaping holes in midfield and defence were fortunate not to have been punished. But Robbie Keane could, and really should, have killed it off at the death but he directed Duff's cross into the ground and wide with the goal at his mercy.
But Staunton's men, in particular McShane and Carsley, had already set the tone for a night which, for the time being at least, papers over the cracks of all things rotten than have emanated in recent days.
Republic of Ireland: Henderson; Kelly, McShane, O'Shea, Finnan; A Reid, Carsley, Douglas, Kilbane; Keane, Duff. Subs: Quinn for Reid (71), O'Brien for Kilbane (79). Booked: Kilbane (10), Douglas (70).
Czech Republic: Cech, Polak, Kovac, Jankulovski, Koller, Rosicky, Jiranek, Baros, Plasil, Ujfalusi, Rozehnal. Subs: Jarolim for Baros (83), Grygera for Plasil (85). Booked: Baros (31), Polak (34).
Referee: Bertrand Layec (France)