There are two changes from the team that beat Gibraltar.
The Republic of Ireland play Georgia on Tuesday night in their second Euro 2020 qualifier, and they will need to up their game after the dour win over Gibraltar on Saturday.
Jeff Hendrick’s goal gave Mick McCarthy’s side the victory in a laboured outing played in testing conditions. However, the team arguably deserve the benefit of the doubt for the display.
"I'm not judging those players on that game. That pitch. That wind. You can't judge them."
McCarthy on the Gibraltar game.#COYBIG
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) March 25, 2019
Played on an artificial surface, beside an airplane landing strip and a rock, with a gale-force wind whipping across the tiny stadium, there’s probably nothing more to be read into the game.
It was a win and no players were injured. Another victory over Georgia on Tuesday night and the Gibraltar game will be forgotten – if it hasn’t already been.
Here’s the team we would pick for the Georgia game on Tuesday night:
In goal, Darren Randolph keeps his place and there should be no arguments about that.
The Middlesbrough goalkeeper has kept 16 clean sheets for his club this season and came to Ireland’s rescue once again on Saturday evening in Gibraltar, making an impressive save to prevent the minnows from taking the lead.
He then played a part in Ireland’s goal, hitting a pinpoint pass in the build-up to Hendrick’s strike.
In defence, captain Seamus Coleman retains his place at right back, Shane Duffy starts alongside him and Enda Stevens is at left-back.
There only change we have made in defence is to swap Richard Keogh out for John Egan. Keogh didn’t do anything wrong against Gibraltar, but it would be good to see Egan be given an opportunity after some solid form for Sheffield United this season.
However, should McCarthy start Keogh again, it wouldn’t be of any real concern, as he has been reliable at the back for the team. Stevens keeps his place and gets another chance to impress.
In midfield, Matt Doherty starts again on the right side of midfield. McCarthy said that the decision to play the Wolves wing back in the position in front of Coleman had not worked against Gibraltar.
However, the experiment should be given another try against Georgia. Against a team that may not completely sit back against Ireland, Doherty could get the space to attack and run in behind, as he has done all season at club level.
In centre midfield, Jeff Hendrick, who scored on Saturday, and Conor Hourihane, who was the best player on the pitch, retain their places in this team for the game against Georgia. Both will have a licence to get forward with Glenn Whelan behind them.
The Dubliner isn’t a fan favourite, but he does a valuable job of screening the defence and enabling other midfielders to attack. He’s also in excellent form for Aston Villa this season, and Ireland can’t afford to be outnumbered in midfield against a team that is comfortable in possession.
On the left, Robbie Brady gets the nod. James McClean may be an Ireland fan favourite, but he struggled against Gibraltar and hasn’t had a great club season.
Brady’s deliveries and ability from dead balls give him the edge over McClean for this team.
Up front, David McGoldrick retains his spot, with Sean Maguire dropping out. McGoldrick improved as the Gibraltar game advanced and set-up Hendrick’s goal.
Maguire also got better as the game went on, but he struggled at times and two starts within three days may be a tough ask for a player who has suffered from muscular injuries over the last two seasons.
Here’s the full XI:
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