Post-match reaction Giovanni Trapattoni stresses the need for positive approach on Tuesday, writes EMMET MALONE

AFTER ANOTHER high-scoring win, this time at home to Macedonia, it is increasingly hard to ignore the idea that it is Armenia who have built up the greater head of steam than Ireland ahead of what, barring a simply unimaginable upset by Andorra in Moscow, will be a showdown for second place at the Aviva stadium on Tuesday night.

Having watched his side keep an eighth successive clean sheet, though, and maintain his unbeaten competitive record with Ireland on the road, it hardly came as a surprise when Giovanni Trapattoni declared last night’s performance in Andorra a job well done.

“Yes, I’m pleased,” he said, “I asked the team to start the game with 100 per cent determination, not to underestimate their opponents, and I think that after 10 or 15 minutes we could have had two or three goals.

“Robbie Keane had a chance almost immediately tonight but once we got to 2-0 there was a sense of security about the result and it meant that I could make changes and not have to worry so much about second yellow cards.”

Stephen Ward picked one up and will miss Ireland’s last group game after the Czech referee decided he had dived in the second half when challenged as he moved into the area.

The defender certainly looked to make the most of the tackle and delay his fall until he was inside the area but the Italian, understandably, opted to side with Ward.

“It’s a great pity and I think the referee has made a little mistake because it was a foul. I asked Stephen and he said the player touched him in the challenge, I’m not sure if it should have been a penalty. It’s a pity but he played well but we have other options.”

The Armenians seem set to test the Irish in a way that Andorra were simply incapable of. But they will need to win while a point would get Trapattoni’s men to the play-offs where, if things go their way in other groups, they could yet be seeded.

The veteran coach was dismissive of the suggestion that he might ask his players to dig in from the outset and play for the solitary point.

“No, it would be the wrong thing to do.

“We play with this mentality, you saw it this evening, and even after the first half tonight I told the players that they had to maintain the approach they had taken in the first few minutes, we can’t change the way we play.

“We are not Manchester United but we can have the same mentality; we always wish to win and we always want to go far. With that mentality we can build a very strong team.

“Now, we have to think about the fact that we have to maintain the attitude and mentality that we have shown here again tonight.

“We have played well again but we have to look to improve always. We have not really conceded a chance tonight but we will have to work hard on Tuesday night to make sure we do not allow our opponents any chances.”

Asked about the late charge for a top two finish by the Armenians, he smiled and tacitly acknowledged that they have done enough to be considered a very serious threat in advance of their visit to Dublin.

Ultimately, though, that was one to be worried about tomorrow.

“We had someone there but right now I only want to think about Ireland.”