European Qualifiers: Martin O'Neill warns Republic of Ireland players against complacency
Friday 10 October 2014 15:34, UK
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill expects his team to beat Gibraltar in Saturday's European Qualifiers Group D clash in Dublin but has warned against complacency.
The Irish welcome Allen Bula's team to the Aviva Stadium in Dublin looking to further remind the visitors of the giant leap they have taken after their 7-0 drubbing by Poland in their first competitive fixture last month.
Let's be honest, we should win the game, we are expected to win the game, so I am not going to hide away from that.
Ireland tackle the Group D minnows before travelling to Gelsenkirchen to take on world champions Germany on Tuesday.
"The emphasis is on us to win the game, of course, we know that. Gibraltar are not expected to beat us in the match," said former Celtic manager O'Neill.
"Traditionally, we are not phenomenal goalscorers, so we have to be creating chances in the game, because we will miss one or two.
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"We have to be really positive from moment one, we also have to be a wee bit careful at the back not to leave ourselves stretched because a couple of times, they broke clear on Poland and had those opportunities - they didn't finish them and obviously got tired towards the end of the game.
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"I think they will have learned a lot from that particular experience. But let's be honest, we should win the game, we are expected to win the game, so I am not going to hide away from that.
"I must admit, I do have a little smile to myself. Gibraltar, I know they have got some part-time players in their team, but the little player playing on the left-hand side stepped inside the Polish right centre-back with two minutes to go to half-time and fired this shot about three inches over the bar which would have made it 1-1 in the game. It might have been an interesting tussle.
"You haven't seen it - we have had to study it because it's my job. The game was exceptionally difficult for Poland to break down.
"Poland are a decent side. We, seriously, will not be good enough to be complacent, certainly not. We are not good enough to be complacent."
Watch the Republic of Ireland take on Gibraltar live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 4.45pm on Saturday.
