It was always going to be difficult for Ireland to come away with all three points in today's game against Wales. Not only were they coming off the back of a disappointing result on Thursday night, but the team was thrown into disarray when it emerged this morning that they would be without five more players after a member of the squad tested positive for Covid-19.
The performance against the Welsh was a decent one, even if it was lacking some clinical finishing. That has been a developing theme over the last four games, with Ireland managing to find the back of the net only once.
That is an issue that could take time to fix, something Ireland don't really have a lot of at the moment. They head into Wednesday's game in Finland needing a positive result to boost their chances of securing a place in pot two for the World Cup qualifiers draw.
Speaking to the media after today's game, Shane Duffy said that the squad treat every international as a massive game, with the next fixture no different.
Every game is important. We're disappointed that the results haven't gone our way, it's not with the lack of trying.
We'll never give up and everyone knows that about us. We're playing good stuff, we're just not finishing game off where we've been on top.
Every game is important, and every player that comes into the squad and member of staff know that every game is massive.
It's important to get a win I think, to get up and running under the new manager. That is the aim. Obviously we try and win every game, so it's not for a lack of trying.
We're out there giving everything. Obviously this week has been difficult, with the squad we had. It was a good effort to get a result today.
After some patchy form in Kenny's first two games in charge, Duffy has been immense during the current international break. Unfortunately, that hasn't translated into wins for the team.
It's clear to see that Ireland are making major strides in terms of their style of play. They are passing the ball much better, creating more chances, and overall look a far more cohesive unit. However, the Celtic player acknowledges that this doesn't count for much if the results do not soon follow.
Football is a result business at the end of the day. We're here for results and we haven't got the ones we've wanted. It's frustrating more than anything.
You've got to take positives from games and we have. I felt like we could have won all four games under the new manager and we haven't won any.
We've got to be realistic and do that side, get the results whatever it takes. We haven't, so we've got to put it right. I know it's easier said than done here...
The result the other night was tough to take, we've bounced back here and tried not to let it affect us and keep going.
We tried to win the game today, it just didn't fall for us. We've just got to keep believing, and we do.
The Irish defence is performing very well. They hardly conceded a chance today, despite the fact that Matt Doherty was forced to deputise at centre back.
It's in the forward areas that the team are lacking. Ireland look very impressive until they get into threatening areas, a time when their composure often lets them down.
Duffy believes that the goals will come and admitted that he would rather see the team missing chances than not creating any at all.
It is frustrating that we're not putting the chances away, but it's a lot better than getting no chances I would say. That's the positive we've got to take.
The last few games we're getting great chances and good positions. We're not relying one chance per game to put away, or two. There's positives there.
It's got to come. I'm just hoping that we get one, I think if we get a goal early on in a game we can put teams away with the way we are playing.
It's just getting the ball in the back of the net. We've got players who do it, so hopefully they stay confident. I believe in them, everyone believes in the strikers and attacking players.
I know it's frustrating, but we believe in them. Hopefully they can get the goals soon.
Hopefully that starts in Finland on Wednesday night.
