It was another nervy night at the office for the Republic of Ireland who kept alive their World Cup hopes with a 1-0 win over Armenia.
A dismal opening 45 minutes was followed by playing all but seven minutes of the second against 10 men after the dismissal of Tigran Barseghyan, but for all the chances created, it was Evan Ferguson's goal that decided the game.
Here is how we rated the Boys in Green.
Caoimhín Kelleher - 6
The expectation was that, fresh from his sixth penalty save in senior football against Portugal - excluding shoot-outs - that he would be more of a spectator tonight. That it was he, and not his opposite number, Henri Avagyan, that had to deal with the first shot on target was not part of the script, gathering easily from Irish nemesis Eduard Spertsyan. The Armenian went close to claiming his fourth goal against the Boys in Green minutes later, but after that, Kelleher had little to do.
Seamus Coleman - 7
The former team skipper started consecutive competitive international games for the first time since 2021 to win his 75th cap. Two sliding challenges in the opening minute had the crowd, still slowly filing in, showing their appreciation. Zhirayr Shaghoyan's high boot resulted in a bloody nose shortly after, where strong tackles from anyone in green were marked absent in a sobering first half. Upped the tempo after the break, with Hallgrimsson explaining post-match the decision to replace the Everton man was down to his yellow card.
Jake O'Brien - 6
Started on the right of the back three in Lisbon and enjoyed the same role tonight. Had a decent chance to open his international account after leaping like a salmon out of water to meet Will Smallbone's early corner, but got his angles all wrong. Very unfortunate to go into the referee's book late on, but thankfully wasn't one of those on the edge of suspension.
Nathan Collins - 5
Has had a shaky campaign where club form has not translated to the green jersey, but the team captain looked more assured against Portugal. That unfortunately didn't carry over against the side ranked 103 in the world. The first-half malaise was best illustrated by his hesitancy in the 37th minute when he expected Kelleher to come out and gather which nearly led to disaster. After the red card, had far less defensive duties and was a constant threat in the opposition box.
Dara O'Shea - 6
After Seamus Coleman, the Ipswich Town defender is now the most experienced defender after winning his 39th cap. Some would argue that a back-five against a side the calibre of Armenia is unecessary, and O'Shea was like a spare man at times. Had a half-hearted appeal for a penalty in the first-half that was rightly ignored. After the break where much of his work was as a target at set-pieces, where he forced Henri Avagyan into a world-class save. Still awaits his first international goal.
Ryan Manning - 6.5
Always looks to make something happen on the ball. Like most of his team-mates, spent more time in enemy territory after the break, but was one of the few bright performers in what was an utterly underwhelming opening 45 minutes. Was more of an offensive threat/outlet than Coleman on the opposite flank, even if the final delivery wasn't always on point. Got on the end of a first-half move but dragged his effort well wide. Will miss the Portugal game after his yellow card.
Will Smallbone - 6
Suggesting that the Irish central midfield failed to get to grips with the game is nothing new, but it was hoped that the Southampton man, on his 15th international appearance, would offer a little more attacking impetus than the suspended Josh Cullen. Unfortunately it was a case of more of the same in a first half where guile was a rare quality across the board. Smallbone was further ahead of midfield partner Jayson Molumby, but aside from a couple of decent set-piece deliveries, there was little to write home about until Ireland's numerical advantage. After that he did impose himself more on the game, crossing for Ferguson to nod home the only goal of the game.
Jayson Molumby - 6
The deeper-lying of the central midfield pair, Molumby often found himself right in front of his back five picking up the ball. The crowd groaned more than once with the sight of so many green jerseys deep in their own half against the Armenians. The West Brom man had a crucial turnover shortly before the break to halt another Armenian counter-attack, but couldn't work his way forward in any meaningful way until the hour mark when he thrashed an effort high and wide. He prospered with more space to work in, but will miss the Portugal game after picking up a booking.
Festy Ebosele - 7.5
Lacked a real threat in possession for all his endeavour against Portugal, but was far more conspicuous tonight. In a first half that won't live long in the memory, he was the one player who seemed to raise the crowd from a slumber.
Hugging the touchline, he repeatedly demonstrated his blistering pace and Stepa Mkrtchyan will have nightmares of his night in Dublin with Ebosele looking to engineer the 1v1 at every opportunity. The decision to replace him was a baffling one, unless the İstanbul Basaksehir picked up an injury that wasn't apparent.
Finn Azaz - 6.5
Hallgrimsson opted for the Middlesbrough player over Chiedozie Ogbene, stating pre-match that it was with tonight's match in mind as to why Azaz was kept in reserve against Portugal in a game he was always likely to have limited opportunities to attack.
On the night he reached double figures in caps for his country, it was a mixed bag. Started very busy in a somewhat central position, but as the game progressed, he seemed unable to link-up up efficiently with those around him. After the break he enjoyed more of the ball, but was fortunate not to be called ashore when the manager rang some attacking changes.
Evan Ferguson - 7
The on-loan Roma man may have hoped to have more of a partner-in-crime up front after a night of toil in Lisbon, but Hallgrimsson opted to keep Troy Parrott in reserve and the Aviva supporters wouldn't have been thrilled to see the frontman drop deeper and deeper as the first half unfolded.
Spurned a brilliant chance to score with 20 minutes remaining when Azaz threaded a ball through, but a minute later his eighth international goal duly arrived, meeting Smallbone's delivery from close range to head home the crucial breakthrough to mark a fourth consecutive home game in which he has scored.
His hold-up play and ability to win aerial challenges is something of a work in progress, yet the Meathman is developing the knack of being able to quickly put behind him a missed chance as well as large passages of play without being involved and yet still doing the hardest thing in football; putting the ball in the back of the net.
Substitutes
Chiedozie Ogbene - (for Coleman '64) - 6
Came on to carry the fight to Armenia and that's what he did, going on the attack at every opportunity. Of which there were many after his introduction.
Troy Parrott - (for Ebosele '65) - 5
A second-half substitute for thje second game running as he continues to work his way back to match sharpness after a recent injury lay-off. Would have loved the chance to find the back of the net, but fellow substitute Adam Idah had far more to choose from despite spending less time on the pitch than the AZ Alkmaar frontman.
Jack Taylor - (for Smallbone '81) - 5
Had vey little impact on the game in the closing 10 minutes.
Adam Idah - (for Ferguson '81) - 5
Should have finished the game with a seventh goal in a green jersey. Within a minute of his introduction he was there to meet Manning's cross with Avagyan pulling off another outstanding save. A defensive intervention scuppered him later on and while he did eventually have the ball in the back of the net after a rasping left-footed effort, the linesman's flag and VAR ensured it wouldn't count.
