Republic of Ireland 0-0 Wales
The gloves were certainly off and it was a minor miracle we only saw one red card tonight as Ireland and Wales clashed in a crucial Group D match.
It wasn’t the classiest of football games but it was full of blood and guts, and after a hard fought draw Ireland go joint top on 11 points with Serbia, while Wales is sitting further back on seven points, level with Austria.
While betting odds marginally favoured Ireland, the home team was injury ravaged while the Welsh were at full strength. So the Irish were happy to concede possession in the first half and watch Wales pass the ball a safe distance from their penalty box.
By the break there was nothing to show for either side but the temperature was suddenly raised just before the break when Ireland’s Glenn Whelan appeared to catch Joe Allen with a stray elbow.
Sam Vokes replaced Hal Robson Kanu at the break to give Wales more thrust up front and the second half sparked into life with chances at both ends. Then the Welsh heads went. Gareth Bale was lucky to stay on the pitch after a clumsy lunge at Jon O’Shea, and then moments later Neil Taylor saw red for a horrible tackle on Seamus Coleman which saw the Irishman leave the field too, but on a stretcher.
Ireland pressed to make the numerical advantage count with Shane Long coming close and then Bale kicked the combative James McClean in the chest and the home fans bayed for another red card but it didn’t come.
As Ireland pushed for a winner a frustrated Aiden McGeady managed to get a yellow card after running into the ref.
And that about sums it up.
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