Seamus Coleman has given a frank assessment of the Republic of Ireland's performance in the 0-0 draw against Northern Ireland, saying any promises made in the aftermath of the game would be "a load of nonsense really".
The captain has said he and his team-mates must "man-up" and "front-up" to the situation they find themselves in after a third game on the bounce without a goal and another incohesive display.
He told RTÉ Sport: "Not good enough is how I would describe it. We need to man up and take responsibility.
"We need to make angles for each other when we have the ball and be braver on the ball. That is the biggest disappointment.
"Darren [Randolph] got man of the match. We have to front up and do these interviews and say the right things, but the only place we can make it right is on the pitch. We all have to man up and take responsibility and that starts against Denmark."
Asked what is at the heart of Ireland’s problems, the Irish captain said it isn’t about the ability of the players, but what they are getting out of themselves.
"Maybe confidence [is the issue]. I'm never going to knock the quality of our players. I think we all need to step, myself included, and be braver on the ball.
"The talking before the game and this talking after the game, it's a load of nonsense really. It's on the pitch it has to happen. We have to end this year on a high.
"Every one of us have to take responsibility. You [the media] see us in training and we get the ball down and that.
"We have to transfer that onto the pitch on match day because that is what it is all about and what big players or good players do."
Coleman added that the courage needed by Ireland should not come in the often traditional Irish form of a strong challenge or additional physicality.
The former Sligo Rovers man concluded: "Bravery is not always tackling. It's getting on the ball.
"The only place this can be put right is on the football pitch and that's all I can say."
