Steve Staunton's honeymoon period as Republic of Ireland manager has proven to be a fleeting one following a surprise 1-0 friendly defeat to Chile.
The optimism and confidence engendered by a 3-0 victory over Sweden in his opening match in charge on March 1 has faded slightly on the back of Manuel Iturra's winning strike.
In fairness to Staunton, in preparation for the opening game of their European Championship qualifying campaign with Germany in September, this was a chance to experiment - even if it ultimately backfired.
Following a training camp in the Algarve over the last few days, Staunton has been applauded by all his players for attempting to implement new ideas and strategies.
After years of what many perceived as the long-ball game under Jack Charlton when Niall Quinn reigned supreme, and then the often rigidly-defensive tactics of Brian Kerr, Staunton has at least showed a willingness to try out alternative tactics.
Following a wonderfully productive 4-3-3 formation against the Swedes, on this occasion Staunton opted for a 3-4-3 line-up.
There are perhaps a number of reasons why it did not work in this end-of-season friendly at Lansdowne Road.
One of which is that this game came more than a fortnight after the Barclays Premiership season drew to a close, so it would be understandable for players to struggle in rousing themselves with summer holidays in the offing.
Another would be the personnel as Stephen Kelly was afforded a debut on the right-hand side of the back three and struggled for the most part, while centre-back Gary Breen played his first game for his country for 18 months.
Defensively, there was no Steve Finnan, Joey O'Brien and Andy O'Brien through injury, all players who would be first in line for places if the game were of a more competitive nature.
So with the players on show, and the unaccustomed line-up, a technically-adept Chilean side took full advantage for the opening 54 minutes before Staunton switched to a more conventional 4-4-2.
By that time the South Americans were in front, opening the scoring moments before the changes with a scrappy goal that belied their inventive nature.
In the opening half they had often looked dangerous, in particular through Luis Jiminez and Mark Gonzalez, the latter showing Liverpool fans his potential should he eventually move to Anfield.
The Reds are to make a renewed bid to secure a work permit for the winger - and should succeed - after their initial effort last year was rejected by the Home Office due to Chile's FIFA ranking at the time being too low.
In the 19th minute, after chesting down a pass from Jorge Acuna, the 21-year-old Gonzalez shimmied his way past Kelly and cut inside Reid before unleashing a low shot that forced a smart save from Shay Given.
Tottenham full-back Kelly had earlier played a nervous back pass to Given that afforded Reinaldo Navia the opening chance of the game in the seventh minute.
Given did enough to force the Chilean striker wide as his shot from a tight angle was sliced off target.
Thankfully, Kelly settled after that, although Ireland as a whole continued to fail to make an impression, with Newcastle goalkeeper Given the difference between the sides.
The 30-year-old vice-captain, winning his 76th cap, pulled off fine saves to deny Gonzalez from a 35-yard free-kick, and Jimenez on two occasions in the closing stages of the opening 45 minutes.
Less than a minute after the restart Given was then at full stretch in turning aside a curling shot from Humberto Suazo.
But Ireland's reprieve was short-lived as they conceded the first goal of the Staunton era in the 48th minute.
It was clumsy at best as Gonzalez initially drove a free-kick into the wall after Steven Reid had been booked for bringing down Jimenez.
The ball then pinged around inside the area, and after Kevin Kilbane had mis-kicked an attempted clearance, Iturra scored his first goal for his country from six yards.
Then came the changes, four in all, with Ian Harte, Aiden McGeady, Graham Kavanagh and Wayne Henderson respectively replacing Breen, John O'Shea, Liam Miller and Given.
Ireland at least looked more solid and effective for the closing third of the game, but chances were still hard to come by.
Captain Robbie Keane, who had the best opportunity of the first half for Ireland with an acutely-angled shot Claudio Bravo comfortably saved, missed a sitter late on.
Damien Duff, who at times had roused the 41,200 crowd with a couple of surging runs, pulled off a fine stop from Bravo for a corner that eventually fell to Keane, only for the Spurs striker to hook over from inside the six-yard box.
The scoreline could have been worse as late on Jiminez twice shaved the post before a few boos greeted the final whistle.
