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Ireland Player Ratings As Robinson Goal Masks Incredibly Poor Malta Performance

Ireland Player Ratings As Robinson Goal Masks Incredibly Poor Malta Performance
Gary Connaughton
By Gary Connaughton
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Well, that wasn't great.

Ireland have managed to pick up a 1-0 victory in Malta, but the performance left a lot to be desired. The team was incredibly slow on the ball and never looked like creating a chance.

Their only saving grace came via a horrific mistake from an opposition player, handing Callum Robinson the opportunity to score the winner. Here's how we rated the performances on the night.

Ireland player ratings vs Malta

Caoimhín Kelleher - 6

Forced into one routine save in the early stages, his only real involvement in the first half of the game.

He made a decent stop to keep Ireland ahead in the final quarter.

 

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Seamus Coleman - 6

Got caught out when stepping out of the back three on a couple of occasions early on, although he was otherwise untested at the back.

Coleman was keen to move into midfield, especially during sustained spells of possession for Ireland.

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John Egan - 6

Egan had very little defending to do in the first half, with most of his involvement coming via passings moves around the halfway line.

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It was a comfortable evening for the Sheffield United player.

 

Nathan Collins - 7

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Moving to the left of the back three for this game, Collins showed an impressive range of passing at times. Unfortunately, movement in front of him was often lacking.

He did continue to try and get Ireland playing with some pace and looked very steady at the back throughout.

 

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Matt Doherty - 5

Doherty was far more involved in the attacking third in this game in comparison to the Norwegian one early on, getting into some dangerous areas in the first half. More often than not, he was not found by his teammates.

In the second half, his offensive output completely dropped off. That was disappointing to see, especially as Ireland lacked creativity from central areas.

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James McClean - 5

McClean looked to inject pace into Ireland's play whenever he got on the ball, but his crosses rarely trouble the Malta defence.

His delivery didn't really improve as the game went on, even if he was a willing runner down the left flank.

 

Josh Cullen - 5

Cullen didn't have much to do in terms of defensive work in the first half, with Ireland dominating the ball.

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His passing was perhaps a bit slow at times and it was clear that Malta had targeted him in the middle third.

 

Alan Browne - 6

Looked to get in and around the Malta box, but failed to find much space. He missed a good opportunity to give Ireland the lead just before the interval, although his toe poke would drift wide.

Had another half chance from a header in the second half, being replaced with 25 minutes to go.

 

Jamie McGrath - 6

Making his first international appearance in over a year, McGrath showed some lovely touches around the box to create problems for the opposition defenders.

He was the only Irish player that looked like he had the ability to craft a chance in the opening half, although his impact wained somewhat as the game went on.

 

Callum Robinson - 6

Looked lively in the opening few minutes, but it quickly became apparent that he was struggling to make an impact up front.

He was handed an absolute gift of a goal early in the second half, being played in by a Malta player with the goalkeeper in no man's land. He took it well, but it was an otherwise quiet evening.

 

Chiedozie Ogbene - 5

Struggled to make much of an impact in the first half, not really adjusting to the low lying Maltese block.

The game really did not suit him, with Ogbene needing space in behind in order to get joy from central areas.

 

Substitutes

Callum O'Dowda - 7

O'Dowda did improve things a bit after coming on, showing good ability on the ball to attack down the left. He was unfortunate to hit the post after a strong run and seems to offer more than the other options at left wingback.

 

Jeff Hendrick - 5

Hendrick looked tidy on the ball before coming on, but he often took too much out of it when more pace in Ireland's play was what was required.

 

Evan Ferguson - 6

Made some decent runs after coming on but service was lacking.

 

Mark Sykes - N/A

Not on long enough to rate.

SEE ALSO: Roy Keane Was Not Happy About Gary Neville's Saipan Question

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