Collins gutted not to earn a result for John O’Shea

Republic of Ireland defender Nathan Collins admitted he was “gutted” that the team were unable to deliver at least one positive result for interim manager John O’Shea during his two games in charge.

The Boys in Green did earn a credible draw at home to Belgium in a friendly on Saturday but were unable to follow a positive performance up on Tuesday as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Switzerland in the Aviva Stadium.

It was no wins, and no goals for Ireland who registered just two shots on target across the two friendlies played and Collins was very disappointed that the players couldn’t give O’Shea something to come away with.

“That is probably the most gutting part,” said Collins after the game. “We put so much work into this. They have come and given everything. We have given him everything. But we just couldn’t get the result.”

Collins played a full part in both games during what looks like being a brief tenure for O’Shea but he has loved having the Ireland centurion involved alongside Glenn Whelan, Paddy McCarthy, Stephen Rice and former Ireland manager Brian Kerr.

“I have really enjoyed it. We have gelled a lot on and off the pitch. We have learned a lot. It has been a stress free camp. John and the staff have been ten out of ten. I really rate them. There is a real mix of youth and experience with Brian Kerr in there. He has given a lot of experience.

"You can see there is a lot of hunger from the manager and the coaches who want to learn and want to get better and want to succeed.

“So having that mix, having that confidence, you can see on the pitch that we are a good team, we can play football. I speak highly of John. They have given us great tactics over the week and even when were getting it wrong (tonight) he helped us out, he tweaked it, and that is what we need.

"It is showing in a match that we want to learn. We are working hard. It has shown that we trust him. We can go and dominate a game. We need to find that cutting edge.”

Ireland were undone by a Xherdan Shaqiri free kick midway through the first half on Tuesday and struggled to create anything of substance as they chased an equaliser - see match report.

“Very frustrating. I think we deserved a lot more,” Collins lamented.

“From until minute 30 we were maybe a bit too relaxed, our press wasn’t as good, I think we gave them a bit too much respect. We got punished with the goal which was probably a harsh one to concede from the free kick. But from minute 30 on I think we genuinely dominated the game.

"Our press was really good, we won the ball back in high areas, even in 1v1s in behind I thought we dealt with that. I think Gavin had just one save to make from minute 30 onwards so, deeply frustrating.”

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