SOCCER:Rather than focus on a disastrous night, Robbie Keane and Kevin Doyle preferred to look ahead to next Tuesday instead, writes GAVIN CUMMISKEY

WHEN THE game was “dead and buried,” to quote captain Robbie Keane, Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni finally made the changes that nearly stole a draw that would have had every Irishman leaving the Aviva with an undeserved floating-on-air feeling last night.

Instead, everyone departed with the more familiar sense of deflation after being well and truly picked apart by a visiting team playing football properly.

“I’m disappointed as we got off to a good start in the first 10 minutes and hit the bar,” said Keane. “We put them under a bit of pressure and then they got the first goal and it just killed us off.

“The game is dead and buried then and we changed our shape a little by playing Aiden (McGeady) in behind myself, it gave us that extra man in midfield and we had to go long ball when 3-0 down. When you get one goal back it gives you a little chance. But it was the latter stages of the game and a little too late.”

At least the players reminded everyone of the pride they still hold in representing their country. That it was far too late is the problem. That Ireland were unable to match their opponents at home is a genuine concern.

“Had we come off the pitch 3-0 the lads would have been absolutely on the floor but the fact that we showed a lot of character to get two goals and nearly a third... but it wasn’t to be.”

Russia, Slovakia and now Ireland have lost one of their opening three qualifying matches so at least there is solace in the knowledge that this group remains wide open.

“Exactly, goes to show that any team can beat anyone. People were saying about us in Armenia, that we expected to get three points but it’s not as easy as that and they are a decent team and showed that by beating Slovakia today 3-1. It’s an open group and hopefully we can come out on top.”

Hopefully.

Keane’s strike partner Kevin Doyle made a pertinent point, considering what had just transpired and what lies ahead for Ireland.

“We just have to forget about it to be honest,” said Doyle. “We will take the positives out of the last 20 minutes or so.

“What can you do? It happens. We just have to get on with it. If we dwell on it too much it won’t do us any good. We have got to look forward to Slovakia. If we win that then all is forgotten.

“Russia are a good team. They have good players and they played well. They took their chances and they made us look a bit silly. We could have got something and in the end it looked like we would get something. Another five minutes and we might have. But on 90 minutes we didn’t deserve anything. We wouldn’t be saying that if we got a draw though. They played well and we didn’t play to our best and that’s it.”

Move along folks, nothing to see here.

“Slovakia have the feeling that we have tonight too. Tuesday is set up to be a great game. We still have a chance to go to Slovakia and get a result.”

“Russia are a good team. They have good players and they played well. They took their chances and they made us look a bit silly. We could have got something and in the end it looked like we would get something. Another five minutes and we might have. . . but we didn’t deserve anything.”