Coleman - Game is for the taking

After the clean sheet claimed away to Sweden last Friday, Seamus Coleman has his eyes set on a win on Tuesday in the Aviva Stadium against Austria. “We want the three points, without a shadow of a doubt,” admitted Coleman. “We have the calibre of players to get a result.

“There will be a different approach on Tuesday night. The game is there for the taking. I’m sure we will be going out to attack them and get some goals. We are in front of our own fans, our friends and family and so we will want to do our country proud.”

Coleman put in an impressive performance in Stockholm where in addition to his defensive duties, he got forward to augment Ireland’s attacking options. On the opposite side of defence, Marc Wilson did likewise as Ireland nullified Sweden’s strikers including Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“I thought John [O’Shea] kept Zlatan very quiet the whole game and I think it was a very positive night for us,” said the Everton player.  “It is good to have players on your team who keep you on your toes like John beside me who is a leader. That is what you need.”

“Some games it happens to open up for you to get forward. You have to pick and chose the right moments. If Marc Wilson is going forward, I can’t really be bombing on as well. There were times when I could have broken forward but I didn’t because you are thinking in the back of your mind that this would be a very good result.

“We were looking to win the game but to hold onto a point and keep a clean sheet was positive. In the changing room we were all happy with the point and we said well done but straight way we knew that Tuesday night is the big one. We will prepare as well as we can and will go all out to get the three points.”

Ireland will be looking to take their excellent away performance from last Friday along with the unbeaten away record under Trapattoni into the home game against an Austria team that sit above Ireland in the Group C table on goal difference. “The record the manager has away from home is brilliant and it is up to us as players to start taking that into our home games. We are all aware of what is at stake in this game and we are confident.”