Former international defender Paul McGrath believes that a new-found cohesion in the Republic of Ireland team can enable Martin O'Neill's side to claim a vital Euro 2016 qualification victory over Scotland at Celtic Park on Friday evening.
Ireland lead Scotland by three points after three games in Group D, but with both side’s realistically targeting the second automatic qualifying spot behind Germany, Friday’s game could prove crucial.
McGrath played in many of Ireland’s biggest games and knows just what the atmosphere will be like in Glasgow and how much pressure will be on the Irish players.
Nevertheless, the former Aston Villa and Manchester United player, who racked up 83 caps and eight international goals, believes that the team spirit in the Irish squad can help them claim all three points.
"I think it’s going to be a very tough game," he told RTÉ.
"I think the Scots are on a par with us at the moment. They’re not dropping too many points either, and they’ve been up against Germany themselves and I thought they were very unlucky there.
"But I think Ireland have come together more as a squad now, they play more as a team and that’s what I love about what Martin (O’Neill) and Roy (Keane) have done with them. They’re actually gelling as a team.
"I think we can go to Scotland and get a good result, not just a draw but I think we can go there and win.
"I'm really looking forward to the game because they’re both on a par with each other at the moment and it can go either way."
