Middle ground key in Kenny battle for hearts and minds

Stephen Kenny couldn't have put it better last night when reacting to Ireland’s head-scratching 3-2 victory over Armenia.

In absolute control and cruising for 70 minutes, Ireland somehow conspired to self-destruct against a desperately average Armenian side and after conceding two goals in two minutes, they were left hanging on before a late Robbie Brady penalty saved them.

"I’m not sure exactly how to feel," was Kenny's immediate response after the game when asked to sum up what had just transpired, and most Ireland fans would agree with him.

Like much of the Kenny era there were positive signs and things to like, but there were also big lows, over-confidence, complacency, and confusing decisions from the bench.

Armenia had not been in the game in any shape or form until the 71st minute when Nathan Collins, who had been handed licence to roam up field from defence, was caught out of position for a rare counter-attack from the visitors.

That usually wouldn’t be an issue but Ireland were left without a covering midfielder and so there was an overload which afforded Vahan Bichakhchyan the time and space for a speculative effort which Gavin Bazunu pushed onto the post.

Collins had recovered by that stage and was able to help shepherd the rebound outside of the penalty area but, again with no defensive cover from the midfield, the ball fell to Artak Dashyan who fired home.

Not a great goal to give away but not a disaster, especially considering it came against the run of play and on the break. The disaster was Ireland’s reaction - and two minutes later Armenia were level.

If the blame for the first goal could, at a stretch, be shared between the Irish defence and midfield, there was no question about who was at fault for the second.