Report

First half:
The perhaps foremost problem in Jackie Charlton’s team had for a time been the inability of John Aldridge to find a goal in the green shirt. Bizarrely, the Liverpool dangerman had yet to score for the Republic. Tony Cascarino only made his 8th cap but already looked the more prolific striker of the two. The match had not even settled before a header from the Millwall forward (following a free-kick) hit the inside of the post. Did it cross the line? Monsieur Vautrot said no. Cascarino brought his terrific form with Milwall into this match, and seemed to create chances in all kinds of ways: For example when he got away from Donaghy to send in a cross from the byline which Aldridge could not control. Besides using Cascarino as a target man,  the Republic could also rely on long throw-ins from Mick McCarthy. With these two weapons, it was Charlton’s team that put the hosts under pressure in the opening phase.

The Republic had made the better start, but it didn’t take too long before N. Ireland managed to find their foot in the game. In fact, the hosts would see more of the ball than the Republic in the first half, but the game itself was mainly characterized by quick exchanges between the two defences as well as endless midfield battles. This could possibly have led to a high tempo game, hadn’t it been for the whistle happy Mr Vautrot, who chose a restrictive line, effectively ruining the flow of the game.

The Ulstermen looked to attack down the right hand side. Their standard move was to try and find targetman Colin Clarke, the right sided of the two strikers, who had some luck with laying the ball off for his midfielders (particularly for Danny Wilson, who often shuttled forward or got stuck in for the loose balls). Right winger Steve Penney also had a few probing runs down his flank. Even if they didn’t create any real chances from open play, it all seemed to happen on this right hand side for the Ulstermen. By comparison, the left hand side was all quiet: Youngster O’Neill was too easily dispossessed and Black didn’t even see the ball until more than 20 minutes of play had gone. Colin Clarke was enjoying a good game up top, shielding the ball efficiently and winning headers. He was a major asset for N. Ireland, and gave them the opportunity to establish play high up in the pitch. His partner Jimmy Quinn had been ‘man of the match’ against Malta, but met far better opponents here in Moran and McCarthy, and especially on the ground he didn’t look like replicating what he had done against the Mediterranean islanders.

It wasn’t an easy match for any midfielder, as the ball probably spent more time in the air than on the ground. Cascarino and Clarke fought admirably on top, having a good tussle with McDonald and Moran. There was however little for the midfielders to work with. While Danny Wilson was the most busy of the homeside’s midfielders, Ronnie Whelan probably was more involved than his teammates in the Irish midfield, although there was little seen of the quality that we usually expect when he is in the Liverpool shirt. Houghton was unusually quiet, having little to work with, and Sheedy mainly contributed with keeping the balance on the left side (showing good work rate).

The two goal scoring opportunities that fell to N. Ireland in the first half, both came from free-kicks (and both were produced on the right hand side). The two were almost identicial. The first opportunity was a Jimmy Quinn header on a cross swung in from Mal Donaghy, with the ball just drifting wide of the far post. The second opportunity was almost identical, but bigger: Colin Clarke once again used his strength and aereal ability to steer the ball towards the far post. Only a great save by Gerry Peyton denied Clarke from giving the Ulstermen the lead just on the stroke of halftime.

Second half:
Bingham had to make a change at half-time, Anton Rogan replacing the injured Mal Donaghy at right back. The home side would kick off through Clarke and Quinn, and they would be attacking the Spion Kop in the second half. The breeze would favour the visitors for the closing 45 minutes.

Once again the Republic showed their intent from kick-off, establishing a firm grip of the game. The best chance of the game came a few minutes into the second half, and was produced by two Liverpool players. A cleared header fell into the feet of Ronnie Whelan who with his vision expertly played through a Ray Houghton shuttling forward from his right midfield position. Houghton’s initial shot was well parried by McKnight, the second, after Houghton himself had picked up the rebound, cleared off the line by O’Neill. It was a good example of the intuitive Liverpool connection and Charlton’s direct style of play, winning back possession and immediately attack again.

Despite the Republic having the early upper hand in the second half, N. Ireland would occasionally strike back with dangerous crossing. Colin Clarke made his presence felt, and won a fair share of the headers. What was lacking, however, was some support from behind, from O’Neill and, in the second half, also from D. Wilson. Perhaps the two started to tire from the high tempo the match was played in.

Houghton’s clever runs was a feature of this second half, as he started to cut inside and wander from right to left. This made both him and the team better. Eire were thriving on Houghton’s inverted wing play, and he would even seek to bring Sheedy into action, coming as far across as to the Everton man’s territory. Sheedy’s trusted left foot would as always be used to whip crosses in, in big McDonald the home side had someone who matched the Millwall striker in the air. Little came off any high ball into the Northern Irish box. 

This was a physical contest of extreme intensity – a game that both teams knew how to play. It was sporting rivalry at its best, combined with fair play and the crowd making the ground a hostile place for the visitors. Even young Rogan, the Celtic full-back, had been met with some less than pleasant shouts from the home supporters upon his introduction. However, he showed maturity beyond his tender years as he replied his doubters with a second half performance that would more or less neutralize Sheedy. At the opposite end down the same flank, Penney was having a difficult second period, seeing very little of the ball. The Northern Irish left-wing, however, enjoyed a more fruitful final 45: Young Kingsley Black got the better of Morris at times, and even if his crosses may not have reached the heads of Clarke or Quinn, it was important that Ulster managed to employ the visiting defence in order to relieve some of the pressure against their own defenders. 

Young Michael O’Neill, who had done well against Malta in Northern Ireland’s opener, again showed glimpses of his quality, and he only seemed to get better and more involved the further the match progressed. By the end of the game, it was fair to say he was the dominant home player from midfield and forward. He ran himself into the ground, and managed to keep hold of the ball in tight situations. 

One second half booking: Ronnie Whelan went in hard on O’Neill, and despite not awarding an instant free-kick, the referee showed the midfield maestro the yellow card once play came to a halt. It was a fair enough decision. 

Conclusion:
The visitors might have shaded the game over all, but a point was definitely not unworthy of the home side, who fought very well until the end. They defended doggedly, and would never allow the Republic time on the ball. They matched their neighbours physically, and both teams gave as good as they got. At times the pace was frantic, and perhaps it could be said that the match lived up to its pre-game billing. Mr Vautrot might not have had his best ever game, but he did seem more lenient during the second half, and allowed the game to flow rather well. Both sides will have been relatively pleased to gain a point from a tricky fixture.