Don  Givens' brief tenure will be reduced to a line of numbers. Played one. Scored none. Conceded none. If the high point of your managerial career is to be a haiku, you could choose worse ways to be represented. Not worse matches mind you, writes Tom Humphries

"I think overall I was satisfied with the result. The way the team was set up we were always going to be defensive. I could see us being solid at the back. I felt in the first half we were the better team and had the better chances but they dried up after half-time.

"We defended very well. I never felt we would concede. After the break though I never felt we would score either. That sums it up. Would have liked to win. Delighted not to lose."

Givens was unperturbed by the small crowd , the dead atmosphere. He felt that a large crowd leaning into the pitch might have spurred the Greeks on.

"Overall, I felt in the circumstances we got a professional performance from the boys. I thought a big crowd would have driven the Greeks on a bit. Home team and all that."

He'd said during the week that the game was about restoring confidence. About stopping the rot after a couple of lacklustre performances. Mission accomplished, he felt.

"Avoiding defeat was paramount for us. I'm happy with the new boys. Richard was asked to play left back. Did very well . . . John O'Shea did excellent. Overall a lot of pluses from tonight."

He bows out, good job well done, noting that "what happens after now isn't anything to do with me. I hope that any of the boys who went well tonight will have a future at international level".

Kenny Cunningham spent the evening getting used to the company in defence. O'Shea beside him in the centre. The monumental presence of Richard Dunne out to the left. The pride for a defender, regardless of the 90 minutes before, comes in the scoresheet. Blank. No complaints.

"The positive thing this evening was the young lads," said Cunningham. "John O'Shea gave a very assured performance in the centre of defence but that surprised nobody.

"I'm delighted for Richard Dunne. Came in at left back, out of position, and - especially in the second half - under pressure he was very good. He showed all the attributes. Quick, strong. No crosses in from that side. Glenn Crowe did well, great credit, kept it simple, played well."

As games go it won't stand in the memory. Cunningham noted that the pitch was dire and treacherous for defenders and that the Irish passing had suffered as a consequence.

"Not enough chances made by us, I suppose. Midfield worked hard. We didn't get enough to the front lads maybe. We got some credit. They had watered the field which you would think would help but didn't. It was tough to get a foot on the ball in midfield. The conditions were tough and there were lots of mistakes in regards to retention of the ball. After the results we've had it was about stopping the rot. We've done that. Hopefully we can build on it. And look forward to Scotland in February."

Lots to happen between now and then as this night recedes into the memory.