After Ireland's win against Moldova on Sunday night, Niall Quinn had some advice for James McClean: take the criticism you receive from the media and use it to your own advantage; go out and prove them wrong.
McClean was the hero in Chisinau, popping with two goals in the last 25 minutes to secure an Irish victory. After three games in Group D, despite not playing well, Ireland have seven points.
Interviewed on Sky Sports post-game, McClean had a pop at the Irish media regarding the negative coverage which he feels Martin O'Neill's side have received.
We got a lot of flack after the Serbia game, a lot of flack after the Georgia game - I don't know what it will be like tonight - unfairly so as well.
The Irish press, especially, they need to have a reality check. We are not going to blow teams away, we know that. We've always been a team that works hard. Winning has never been enough.
We're happy to get a win tonight and we're happy to be on seven points.
McClean believes that no matter how the team play, there is no victory to be had with the media.
It’s a bit frustrating. Look, our fans are brilliant. Through thick and thin, they travel everywhere home and away and support us and they are amazing.
For some reason with the media it seems to be a no win situation. If we play pretty football and we don't win they say we should have won. If we don’t play pretty football and we win, they say we need to play better football. Someone tell us where there's a win in there.
I have always been one of those people... a win no matter what, no matter how it comes... that's just me.
We have seven points after three games. People see Georgia and Moldova as write-offs, they're not. There is no such thing as that anymore, especially in international football.
We're delighted. We've got seven points. We're delighted.
