Uefa Nations League Group Two: Republic of Ireland 0 England 2
From Brendan Crossan in Dublin
FIRST-HALF goals from Declan Rice and Jack Grealish gave England a comfortable 2-0 win in their opening Uefa Nations League tie against Republic of Ireland in Dublin.
Both goalscorers were booed from start to finish having played for Ireland in their younger days before declaring for England.
It was written in the stars that the pair would seal the win for Lee Carsley’s England side and help put the disappointment of finishing runners-up in last summer’s European Championships.
Sammie Szmodics had Ireland’s best two chances of the game in a painfully one-sided affair but was denied by Jordan Pickford in the first half and narrowly missed the target with his second half effort.
If Ireland’s new manager Heimir Hallgrimsson wasn’t sure of the size of the task in front of him, he does now after watching the boys in green outclassed and lucky to escape with just a two-goal defeat.
Hallgrimsson will look for a better performance against Greece in the Irish capital on Tuesday night.
IRELAND RATINGS
Caoimhin Kelleher: Kept the score respectable with a string of brilliant saves, three of which came in the closing stages. No chance for England’s two first-half goals. 7
Matt Doherty: The Wolves man showed a bit of attacking spark in the opening exchanges but he was on the back foot thereafter. And Doherty is not the greatest on the back foot. Caught napping when Anthony Gordon peeled off his flank to set up England’s first goal. 3
Robbie Brady: The fact that Ireland is still trying to get a tune out of one of their Euro 2016 stars says everything about the squad’s scant resources. Still, the Preston NE man played a canny game against Bukayo Saka. 5
Seamus Coleman: Ireland’s captain was withdrawn after 56 minutes due to an ankle injury. Battled gamely against Jack Grealish and Anthony Gordon at different times, not helped by Matt Doherty’s lack of alertness down his side at times. 6
Nathan Collins: Moved to the right of the back three in the second half and got forward. Made a brave block on Harry Kane in the first half before Declan Rice followed up to score. 5
Dara O’Shea: Puts in a defensive shift but you’d like to see him take more responsibility in possession. Being a right-footed centre-back playing on the left doesn’t help. 4.5
Jayson Molumby: Technically loose at times and shot wildly over the bar in the second half when under no pressure – but offered physical resistance and couldn’t have given much more. 5.5
William Smallbone: Fouled several times in the opening half and was way off the pace. Outnumbered. Outclassed. Struggled to make any impression. 3
Chiedozie Ogbene: Ireland’s best player. Ipswich Town’s new signing has some size of heart. Showed bravery in possession – which was a rare commodity in Irish ranks – and set up Sammie Szmodics for Ireland’s best chance in the second half when he moved to the wing-back role. 7
Adam Idah: It’s easy to say the big Celtic striker didn’t get any service - and it’s true - but he never imposed himself on the game. 3
Sammie Szmodics: One of the few shafts of light in the current Irish set-up. Had two good efforts on England’s goal. Resourceful and a worker-bee with some quality. 6
Subs:
Jake O’Brien: Assumed the central role of the back three. Physical but needs more games at this level to see what he’s got. 5
Jason Knight: Lively and did brilliantly to cut out an Anthony Gordon run. 5
Alan Browne: Filled in for Robbie Brady at left wing-back and found Bukayo Saka still lively right to the end. 4
Kasey McAteer: Making his debut, the Leicester City man assumed a left sided role and put himself about. 5
Evan Ferguson: Got the last few minutes but nothing came off for him. 4