Kilbane taking positives from draw

Kevin Kilbane believes Ireland will not stand off Italy and let the world champions dictate play when the sides meet in Bari on Wednesday night, writes Glenn Mason.

Ireland were criticised for backing off Bulgaria on Saturday night at Croke Park in the 1-1 draw and Kilbane was centrally involved in their equaliser as Stiliyan Petrov's shot deflected off him to beat Shay Given.

Kilbane hopes that the players will have learned lessons from that performance to take to Italy and a game where Ireland will be expected to be on the back foot.

He said: 'I think we allowed them come on too much and when you give a team too much room that is where you are going to come unstuck.

'We let them come on to us far too much. I think ultimately that has cost us we gave them too much ground. They were coming at us at will.

'We have to get back in training and prepare well for the game. We have to pick ourselves up quickly and get our minds set on Italy. It is a big, big game.

'We have to go there and try to get a result and we are capable of doing that. Italy are a strong side but I am sure that everyone is going to relish the challenge.'

Kilbane feels that there are positives to be taken from Saturday's game, most notably the performance of Richard Dunne and John O'Shea at the centre of the defence.

He added: 'We allowed them too much room, although Shay [Given] wasn't called into action too much. Some would say the goal might have been coming.

'When you are in front for so long, it is disappointing. The way in which we conceded the goal, and particularly from my own point of view, was disappointing. I think it could have been avoided throughout the whole move.'