Jason Knight said the 3-0 victory over Gibraltar was the perfect response to last week's disappointing defeat in Athens in their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
After coming away empty-handed against France and Greece, Stephen Kenny’s side picked up their first points with second-half goals from Mikey Johnston, Evan Ferguson and Adam Idah.
After a below-par display in the 2-1 defeat to Greece, the Boys in Green struggled to create many clear cut opportunities in a goalless first half, before substitute Johnstone set the home side on their way eight minutes after his interval introduction.
Knight was deployed in a wing-back role and was prominent throughout in a player of the match display and says it was just what the doctor ordered after the recent setback.
"It’s the response we needed," he told RTÉ Sport. "On Friday, we didn’t get the result or the performances we really wanted.
Jason Knight is named the player of the match after Ireland beat Gibraltar 3-0 and he says: "It's the response we needed. This is the only way we could respond, getting a comprehensive win." #RTEsoccer pic.twitter.com/ZbhqYUp8Qo
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) June 19, 2023
"This was the only way we could respond to get a good comprehensive win and I think we put in a good performance as well.
"These teams are going to come here and sit in and we have got to break them down.
"It’s not going to be in the first minute, it could be the last minute. I think we were patient. Obviously, it was frustrating for us on the pitch in the first half, but I think we came out second half and really turned it up a gear.
"I think we came out second half and really turned it up a gear."
Having spent time together at a training camp in Bristol ahead of the international double-header, the Derby County player says there has been no shortage of effort from management and players to improve Ireland's fortunes, and was happy to adapt in a wing-back role.
"I was happy to get on the pitch in any way, to help the team in any way is great. I done alright.
"We were well prepared for the camp and today we turned up."
