It's back-to-back Nations League defeats for the Republic of Ireland as Ukraine leave Dublin with a deserved 1-0 win.
Here is how we rated the Boys in Green tonight.
Caoimhín Kelleher 5
Beaten all ends up on two occasions, but only once did VAR come to the rescue. Taras Kacharaba got the better of him with a looping effort from around 23 yards, but that fine strike was chalked off for an earlier offside. However, when substitute Viktor Tsygankov whipped an in swinging free from the right, it caught the defence, and Kelleher, cold.
Nathan Collins 7
Crucial recovering block in the box when Artem Dovbyk showed his strength by battling Shane Duffy off the ball and having a sight of goal in the box. That was the basics of defending from the Burnley man, and he also backed up a fine showing away in Armenia with his composure and athleticism here. Concentration levels were needed at the very end as he made another last-ditch sliding block to deny Tsygankov a second.
Shane Duffy 5
He was in the centre of the six-yard box desperately trying to clear Tsygankov's opening goal but could not get close to it. Had been muscled off the ball soon after in the 50th minute when Dovbyk was too hot to handle. His blushes were spared by the offside flag in the 74th minute when he swung at fresh air following Chiedozie Ogbene’s knock down. So close to an equaliser moments later when his bullet header from eight yards was tipped onto the bar by Andriy Lunin.
John Egan 5
One of the most disappointing aspects of the defeat in Armenia was the fact John Egan was nowhere near as commanding or confident with the ball at his feet. After 10 minutes it seemed as if he would be able to get Ireland playing with a delightful outside-of-the-right-foot pass into Jason Knight to get Ireland on the attack. But like the rest of the players that confidence faded. Limped off just before the hour.
Cyrus Christie 5
Was fortunate in the 61st minute when he failed to properly deal with a cross to the back post. His attempted headed clearance fell to Mykhailo Mudryk but he wasn’t able to capitalise. Stephen Kenny spoke of Christie having a good season with Swansea and how he was a natural fit for the position, but he rarely posed any danger in an attacking sense and that outlet on the right seemed cut off.
Josh Cullen 5
Got a deserved booking for a late sliding tackle on Ukraine captain Serhiy Sydorchuk and it was the perfect summation of his, and Ireland’s performance. Late to react and off the pace. His emergence has been an undoubted bright spot over the last 12 months but this was a reminder of some of his limitations. Almost produced an equaliser in the 83rd minute when he lashed a shot from 25 yards just wide of the post.
Jeff Hendrick 5
Was the architect of one of Ireland’s only decent opportunities in the first half when he played a near slide rule pass into space for Callum Robinson to latch on to. There seemed to be a tangle of legs with Valeriy Bondar but a penalty would have been soft. Lasted the full 90 minutes as Kenny placed faith in him but, save a few moments of spark after the late substitutions were made, Ireland couldn’t muster much.
Enda Stevens 5
Seemed to have a bit more joy in the early stages of the game and played one fine ball down the wing which Callum Robinson latched on to. But in attacking sense his contribution was minimal and in this system the onus is on the wing back to provide far more of a threat. Taken off with just over 20 minutes remaining as Ireland needed more energy to try and cause problems.
Chiedozie Ogbene 5
There was a break in the 29th minute which seemed to sum up the Rotherham man’s night and Ireland’s general hesitation in the final third. The ball broke kindly from a Ukraine attack, Ogbene reacted sharply and drove centrally. Callum Robinson ran off the left and Jason Knight was also in support. Ogbene dallied and by the time lifted his head the pass was scuffed and the chance gone.
Callum Robinson 5
Looked bright and bubbly and keen to make things happen in those early exchanges. Had that moment of uncertainty in the box after Hendrick’s pass but other than that was nowhere near as effective as he had been previously. Whether it was those runs into space or dropping deeper to try and provide some kind of creativity, that spark just wasn’t there.
Jason Knight 6
In the opening 10 minutes alone he beat a couple of defenders and threatened the goal, then dropped inside from his position on the left and was able to take an Egan pass on the half turn and test the goalkeeper again. It looked like he would create an extra body in the middle of the park when required but his influence waned somewhat after the break. Maybe it was tiredness that played a factor as he blazed over in the box when the ball dropped on his left in injury-time.
Substitutes
Dara O’Shea for Egan (62) – Was able to slot in without any worries and will be a likely starter against Scotland here on Saturday. 6
Michael Obafemi for Robinson (69) – Put in one fine cross for Duffy which almost led to an equaliser and then glanced his own header wide from the resulting corner. 6
James McClean for Stevens (69) – Had a couple of opportunities to deliver set-pieces and they were at least a threat. 6
Alan Browne for Christie (70) – Operated on the right side but hard to make much of an impact. 5
CJ Hamilton for Ogbene (78) – Chased down a couple of lost causes and had one cross cut out. 5
