‘This is not bravado talk’: Martin O’Neill refuses to surrender Ireland hopes against Scotland

Shaun Maloney’s second half goal cancelled out Jon Walters’ first half opener and O’Neill insists Ireland can still qualify for Euro 2016 despite their 1-1 draw with Scotland at Lansdowne Road.

Ireland manager Martin O'Neill reacts during their Euro 2016 qualifier match against Scotland at Aviva Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

DUBLIN // Martin O’Neill insists Ireland can still qualify for Euro 2016 despite their 1-1 draw with Scotland at Lansdowne Road on Saturday.

The draw, with Shaun Maloney’s second half goal cancelling out Jon Walters’ first half opener, was welcomed by Scotland coach Gordon Strachan, but left O’Neill disappointed after seeing his side dominate the encounter.

Scotland remain two points ahead of Ireland, with four games remaining in Group D, while group leaders Poland surged five clear with a 4-0 victory over Georgia.

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Ireland still have to play Gibraltar, Georgia, Germany and Poland, and while Scotland have an easier run in -- on paper at least -- O’Neill insists all is not lost.

“I think, naturally the advantage is with Scotland,” O’Neill conceded.

“They must be delighted to have gone away with something from the game.

“Having said that, we’re still well in the group, and this is not fighting or bravado talk.

“There are two games in September, we’ll take those and see where that leaves us -- and where we are when Germany come (to Dublin in October).”

Ireland began the game with the tempo and attitude O’Neill has long demanded, but Walters’ goal was the only return with few clear chances created.

“I didn’t want half time to come,” said O’Neill. “I thought Scotland were in disarray at the time and we were in control of the game.

“When half time came along we were in a commanding position, but of course, like everything else, we need to try create some clear cut chances.

“We’ve had a lot of pressure, a lot of corner kicks, but we have to turn that pressure into goals.

“I’d like to have won the game, obviously we would have been in a good position.”

Scotland, just as they did in Celtic Park last November, made the most of the few chances created, with Maloney -- who scored the winner in Glasgow -- once more coming up with the goods.

The goal came just seconds after the restart with many fans still away from their seats, and O’Neill admitted it shook the Irish players to have conceded so soon.

“It was a disappointing time to concede, because I thought we were very dominant in the first half, and we deserved to be in front,” he said.

“But we have absolutely fallen asleep for the goal -- even though it was going miles wide.”

Strachan refused to get carried away with the point, insisting it was still too early to say how Group D would pan out.

“You never know,” he said, with Scotland still to welcome Poland and Germany to Glasgow.

“I won’t analyse the group, because you never know what points are going to be needed to qualify.”

On the match, he added: “To get that intensity in June is ridiculous, after that many games, its incredible.”

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