6 KEIREN WESTWOODMade a save on 17 minutes from a Faroe cross that caught in the wind and was dipping over him. Decent distribution and no more was asked of him.
6 SÉAMUS COLEMAN
Quality full back made an important early tackle but didn’t overlap with enough menace. Must be considered the resident number two now. The wonder is why Trapattoni kept the 24-year-old on ice for so long.
4 JOHN O’SHEA
Beaten in the air for the Faroe goal. Only evidence he’s a quality player is because Alex Ferguson and Martin O’Neill have said so. Shame that Ireland cannot get a commanding performance from the veteran.
5 DARREN O’DEA
Headed goal and important block provide some redemption but still nervy in possession, with a shocking lack of authority under a dropping ball on 11 minutes that conceded an unnecessary corner.
6 MARC WILSON
Probably hasn’t solved the troublesome left back problem, even if his goal on 46 minutes was like one of those early rockets that reminds you it’s Halloween. Nice cross for Walters’s goal.
7 AIDEN McGEADY
Clearly addressed the perceived flaw attached to his ability to put quality ball into the danger zone. Decent first-half crosses off either foot should have been rewarded with at least one goal.
6 JAMES McCARTHY
We can no longer blame Trapattoni for his inability to grow into a game but impressively got through all the dirty work and appears to have gone some way to challenging the established midfield pecking order.
5 KEITH ANDREWS
Went deep to control the tempo, which he bravely attempted but ultimately failed to achieve. His usual non-stop endeavour kept Ireland ticking over but spurned two goal chances.
6 ROBBIE BRADY
Not quite the arrival of a Damien Duff type winger but huge potential all the same. That left foot could’ve had two early goals and seems to have so many other attributes. Substitution bizarre.
6 ROBBIE KEANE
Despite being hindered by a wobbly Achilles, grew into it by getting closer to goal and was influential during Ireland’s two-goal period. Claimed Walters’s goal, and also featured for the own goal.
6 JONATHAN WALTERS
Picked to score goals and finally delivered, after missing an earlier header, to secure the three points. Still, must be time to go Long from the outset (and not literally). Messy ball doesn’t stick to him.
4 MANAGER WATCH
So, Wilson and Walters were inspired selections? The sense remains that Trapattoni feels he’s above the scrutiny that comes when a manager doesn’t perform the due diligence required for such a high profile job.
SUBSTITUTES
Simon Cox for Robbie Brady seemed like madness in any language, even Trapattoni’s babble. Long only arrived on 79 minutes for Keane.