Stan has learned from defeat

Ireland manager Steve Staunton claimed he and his side had "learned a lot" despite losing 1-0 to Chile in today's international friendly game in Lansdowne Road.

Staunton said: "We experimented and it didn't work out. But we got a lot of positives out of it and learned an awful lot, it's been a great four days.

"We're looking forward to the Euros (Euro 2008 qualifiers) and we learnt a lot from tonight. Aiden McGeady came on and did well and I thought Stephen Kelly did well.

"There are positives out of it. We experimented - we know what we can and cannot do now. Are the players tired? I don't know. We had a go in the last 20 minutes but when you start badly it takes time to get over that.

"The players are disappointed but now we look forward to what's going to happen in August and September."

Reading striker Kevin Doyle admitted it was a "bad way to finish the season".

"It's always disappointing to get beaten, we didn't get out of the blocks early and it continued from there," he said.

"A couple of the lads haven't played for three weeks, myself included, whereas they have been training. We were a yard off the pace at times.

"We had a couple of chances, nothing too clear-cut, but they put theirs away. They are a very good team."