By Paul Jones
Ryan Giggs has admitted his Wales team must step on the gas if they are to break down international sides as hard-edged as the Republic of Ireland.
The Wales manager was disappointed with the pedestrian football that made for a drab 0-0 draw in Dublin in their Nations League clash.
Ireland’s 10-man coronavirus-hit side refused to yield late on after Stoke winger James McClean was sent off in the closing stages at the Aviva Stadium.
“We have to get the players on the ball quicker,” said Giggs, adding that Daniel James was having to come too deep as the ball was not coming to him.
“Our build-up play has to be better but you have to credit Ireland, they pressed well, they are an aggressive and physical side.”
Ireland, who lost five players on the eve of Sunday’s game as a result of Covid-19 protocols after one unnamed member of the squad had tested positive, had chances to win a scruffy encounter.
Giggs said he had no concerns about the virus ahead of the fixture.
He added: “We knew before the game what happened but we concentrated on what we needed to do and making sure we concentrated on what we can do.”
Wales were denied a penalty after Ireland’s goalkeeper Darren Randolph appeared to bundle over Ethan Ampadu in the box after dropping a high ball.
Giggs would only say it was clear his player did not commit a foul and acknowledged VAR could play a role in some situations.
Ireland manager Stephen Kenny said: “They are a really good group, they just showed their professionalism by performing to the level that they did,” he said.
RED CARD FOR IRELAND! 🔴
James McClean is given his marching orders, having been booked moments earlier. Can Wales make the advantage count now?
📺 Watch the #NationsLeague clash live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/TUtQWX2T9R
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 11, 2020
“It was close to midnight when we found out last night. It was a lot of stuff today early. It all had to be done before breakfast.”
John Egan, Callum Robinson, Callum O’Dowda and Alan Browne were stood down on Sunday as close contacts and Derrick Williams was also missing from the 18 names on the teamsheet.
Kenny was already without Aaron Connolly and Adam Idah for similar reasons and Seamus Coleman, Darragh Lenihan, Harry Arter, James McCarthy and David McGoldrick were absent through injury.
“I think the players, it just shows a bit of depth to what we are doing at the minute,” said Kenny, who also felt there was a lot of pace missing from the front line.
Wales’ Nations League group lead down to one point after Finland’s 2-0 win over Bulgaria in Helsinki.
— Phil Blanche (@philblanche) October 11, 2020
“Everyone who played today acquitted themselves really, really well. Overall, we could have won the game, it was evenly-balanced, given there were not a lot of chances in the game.”
Match facts
Republic of Ireland remain winless in seven UEFA Nations League matches (D4 L3), scoring just two goals across those games.
Wales have kept five consecutive clean sheets in competitive matches, their best such run since September 2015 when they kept five in a row in qualifying for EURO 2016.
This was Republic of Ireland’s fourth goalless draw with Wales; only against Poland (five) have they had more nil-nil stalemates in their history.
Wales are unbeaten in eight competitive games (W5 D3), conceding just three goals in this run.
James McClean received his first red card in his 75 international appearances for Republic of Ireland; he was the first Irish player to be sent off in a home match since Kevin Doyle against Armenia in October 2011.