Trapattoni confident goals will flow

Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni is convinced the goals will come if his side continues to create chances.

The Italian tasted victory for the first time as manager on Monday night as strikes from Glenn Whelan, Darren Potter and Andy Keogh saw off Portuguese minnows Lagos 3-1 at the Estadio Municipal.

However, had it not been for the woodwork and the exploits of home goalkeeper Toco, the margin of victory could have been significantly greater.

Trapattoni, who used late arrivals Stephen McPhail and Kieren Westwood as second-half substitutes to ensure that all 22 members of the squad played at least part of a game in the last 48 hours, was not too disappointed.

He said: 'We hit the post twice and their goalkeeper made two or three saves in the first couple of minutes.

'What is important is that we created chances. As long as we continue to create chances, we will eventually start to take them.

'That's football. Sometimes, the ball hits the post or the goalkeeper saves it. That's football. The important thing is to get to the point where we are getting shots in on goal.

'Scoring four, five or six goals tonight was not important; for me, creating chances was the most important thing.'

Whelan set the ball rolling with just nine minutes gone when defender Uriel could only help his well-struck volley into his own net, and it was 2-0 on the half-hour when Potter broke from halfway and chipped the keeper.

After further chances had come and gone, Lagos skipper Marco Carmo converted Vitinha's cross, but Ireland wrapped up the win with 55 minutes gone when Keogh made the most of Damien Duff's excellent run to make it 3-1.

There was still time for Vitinha to force a solid save from Westwood, a 62nd-minute replacement for Joe Murphy, after Damien Delaney's slip had put the midfielder in on goal.

Trapattoni later defended his decision to call up the Carlisle keeper in the wake of criticism from Bohemians counterpart Brian Murphy that he should have looked closer to home.

The Italian said: 'I did not know him (Westwood), but our scouts told me he played in the (English League One play-off) semi-final against Leeds and played two or three important games. We are looking at the young players. We have to look at all the possibilities.'

Ireland are due to return to Dublin on Thursday to continue their preparations for Saturday's friendly clash with Serbia at Croke Park.

Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne, John O'Shea, Aiden McGeady and Darren O'Dea will join up with the party in Ireland after being left out of the trip to Portugal because of club or personal commitments.