Collins: Loss in Armenia could prove a good thing in long run
Nathan Collins has insisted the Nations League defeat in Armenia could prove to be a good thing in the long run. The defeat at the Republican Stadium may not rank alongside last year's World Cup qualifier reverse at the hands of Luxembourg in terms of humiliation, but it left manager Stephen Kenny and his players with questions to answer after they were unable to find a way past a side ranked 45 places below them. Speaking ahead of Wednesday evening's clash with Ukraine at the Aviva Stadium, Burnley defender Collins said: "I don't know if it will affect confidence because we know what we can do. "It could nearly be good for us as it will add fuel to the fire. We need a reaction and we have said it in there. Whether we show it on Wednesday, we know we need one. "In a way, it's probably good for us as we've been on a high lately. And now we know we need a reaction, so if we get that it should be good for us." Kenny admitted after the game that the Republic had only themselves to blame after they squandered first-half chances and then simply ran out of ideas. It was Ireland's first defeat in nine games, but the Nations League record remains miserable with no wins and just two goals scored in 11 games.
