Shane Duffy reveals how Martin O’Neill reacted to Moldova’s goal against Ireland

Shane Duffy didn't need to be told he had made an error for Moldova's goal, it was obvious to the player and anyone watching what had happened.

However, Martin O'Neill admonished the player in the dressing room and during his post-game interview on RTE. The Republic of Ireland were leading 1-0 against the Group D minnows in the World Cup qualification game on Sunday, when play broke down in Moldova's half and a forward pass caught out the Irish defence. Igor Bugayev raced through to score, and Duffy, in particular, was at fault. The Derry defender gambled, hoping to win the ball, but was caught-out. Ireland went on to win the game 3-1, thanks to a brace from James McClean in the final 20 minutes. O'Neill was happy with the victory following the game, and Ireland's position in the group, in second place, level on points with Serbia who have a greater goal difference, but he still wasn't pleased about Duffy's error. The Ireland manager said to RTE's Tony O'Donoghue that the goal was "a bit of a dunderhead moment," and Duffy doesn't appear to be disputing that view. https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/785367078203187200 The Brighton and Hove Albion defender said following the game that O'Neill gave him a slap across the head for the mistake, and admitted he has to iron the errors out of his game. "I have just looked back at the goal, the manager gave me a slap across the head," Duffy told The Herald.

"I just have to get those mistakes out of my game. There were a few words at half time last night but we got there in the end."

The 24-year-old also spoke about how the goal came about, and his thought process when he went to win the ball.

"For their goal, there was just a mix-up, I tried to read the guy (Bugaev), he has taken it down and put it through. I thought he was going to head it inside but both of us got mixed up. I should have just stayed and seen it out but we got there."

However, like his manager, Duffy was taking the positives from Ireland's haul of six points against Georgia and Moldova, and looking ahead with optimism to next month's qualifier in Vienna against Austria.

"It was a good week for us. The main objective was six points but then the other results went our way. I know it’s early but every point matters and hopefully we can take the positives away from the two games and move on to Austria."

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